Emergency Pruning of Our Limelight Hydrangea Tree

[@kimmicannon5629]

We gardeners go through so many issues with our gardens. What would our gardens do without us? I imagine, (nature would find a way). Wishing you the best my passion-for-gardening fellow gardener. Happy Autumn.

[@GardenSanity]

Oh Kimmie, you're so right! Sometimes the gardens DO need our help, and other times perhaps hands off works just fine! That's always the delicate balance, isn't it? ❤️ Here's to our shared passion for gardening! 🤗

[@suzetteccc]

The tree looks great - like a real tree. Well done. 💚

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Suzette! I’m hoping the tree will be happier with its haircut 🤣 and the much cooler temperatures we’re finally enjoying. 💚🌿

[@depljp91]

Omg! All 9 of my bobo’s are doing the same thing. I’m putting them on an iron/sulfur diet and hoping for recovery of the ph in spring. The environmental conditions just took a toll on these babies. I think they would have done better if my ph were not so high and I fertilized better. Good luck!

[@GardenSanity]

I've heard from so many gardeners in these comments and elsewhere that they have experienced similar issues this Summer, just like you outlined. One of my Fire Lights was awful, as were my 3 Fire Light Tidbits. (You can see how awful they look in my latest video: Hits & Misses, A Deep Dive September Garden Tour.) Of course the hard part for all of us in this situation, is what will next Summer bring weather-wise? More of the same? Worse? Better? I wish I had a crystal ball to know! ❤

[@tammydeschenes4857]

A good rejuvenation pruning this spring may be a good idea. Not sure if it’s just the angle of the camera but looks like you’re leaving too long of a stub near forking branches which usually dies and cause near branches to slowly die off too. Hope it bounces back next season. Good luck!

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Tammy -- that's exactly what I've been contemplating: a rejuvenation pruning in the Spring. I'm still going back and forth on it, because those branches that shoot straight up are super strong, and I'd hate to cut them back. Still thinking about this, obviously. As for those "stubs" you saw: those are left over from the previous Spring pruning. I usually cut those back more once I see that new stems formed below the cut. I just didn't get to it this year. I had no idea that it could cause the branches nearby to die back?!? I've never had that happen, as normally I snip those off and the remaining new branches are fine. However....as I didn't do it this year, I wonder if that's also what happened . . . You've given me good food for thought. Thank you! ❤️

[@jeangurnee]

Had something similar happen to almost all of my camellia bushes this past season, leaves just turned brown on random branches. None of them flowered this year. No water issue, no extreme temps. I hard pruned three of them and turned one into a tree form. The leaves all look glossy and green now. Took about three weeks. I like the way your hydrangea turned out. Very sculptural.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Jean! That’s awful about your camellias, but I’m so relieved that they bounced back after your hard pruning! 🍃 And how strange that there wasn’t any usual reason to point to like water or heat. 🙃🙂 I’m hoping for a similar good result with my tree. Glad you liked how it turned out. 💚

[@PeggyMills]

Good luck. Curious to see how it turns out.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Peggy! You and me both! 😄🤞

[@anneann9127]

I'm in Zone 5b Wisconsin. I have Nine Limelight hydrangeas, One Little Lime and one other one (can't remember the name) that are usually beautiful late Aug and September. This year they are all pitiful and embarrassing. Yellow leaves falling off, the normally beautiful huge white flowers are brown. We had a super wet spring and early summer and then we were very hot and humid the rest of the year up until now. I have pruned the very heavy heads to stop the drooping and given them extra fertilizer and some iron but nothing has helped so far. I've pretty much given up on them for this year and crossing my fingers that next year is different. Such a shame as they are one of my favorite things in my garden. Thanks for posting and please do an update, I would love to see what works for you. Good luck.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for sharing and yes I'll definitely do an update next Spring. I haven't seen much - if any - improvement similar to what you are seeing (or not seeing) yet. It's been very frustrating and disappointing, and the only solace is that so many other gardeners are experiencing the same thing, judging by the other comments here. My fingers are also crossed that next year is better somehow, and I'm shaking my head as I type this . . . I wish I had a crystal ball to already know how things will be. This time last year, my Limelight Tree was stunning in the beginning of October and same with my Fire Light Hydrangea, but the flowers are almost completely brown now. Here's hoping next Spring's update will be wonderful, as will your own update as I hope you'll keep me posted too. 👍 🌿 (PS -- I'm planning on doing a little tour of the backyard soon, so I'll show the tree in that video.)

[@maureenthomson9584]

Thank you for this video l hope it’s better in the spring ❤

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Maureen - me too! 🤞🍃

[@Heelman73]

My limelight hydrangea tree did the exact same thing as yours. It was a 7 gallon, 1st year in the ground tree. I’m in zone 8A North Carolina. I’m following to see how your tree recovers. Thank you

[@GardenSanity]

In your case, because recently planted, I’d chalk it up to the tree still adjusting to its new home. But a 7 gallon does already have a wonderfully significant root ball, so that’s good. However, with this many leaves being affected, it *could* be the Summer weather…somehow. Your weather is probably more hot and humid than mine. 🥵 However, I’ve seen other hydrangeas trees around here looking perfect, although I noticed one in particular seems shaded from the hottest part of the day. I’m trying not to obsess about this, but I am. 😅

[@michaeloconnor8315]

Howdy from 7b 8a north Alabama a lot of my hydraingias look rough had several day over 100 unusual for as much heat as we got a lot of sun scorch it won’t hurt my plant they just look awful on some plants but some cool air is headed to the mountains here so will see I got a month and a half of growing season left mike

[@GardenSanity]

Glad to hear you’re also finally getting some cooler weather! I’m hoping that during our mild Fall season, I’ll at least see some new healthy leaves on this tree, even if many of the flowers are drying already.

[@HeatherSmith-ii7mi]

❤❤❤❤

[@kathleentwyman7010]

Great video ❤

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks Kathleen! Fingers crossed that the tree rebounds! 🤞🙏🌿

[@EilandMeisje85]

I’m experiencing the same thing here in GA and I thought maybe an insect invasion in its roots but I wasn’t sure if I should do a huge prune like this bc I just got it several months ago and it was doing great until several weeks ago. It’s been severely hot and then almost 3 wks of heavy rain and now it’s cooler. I just heavy pruned my Bobo in the front of our home and had my fingers crossed but I’ll be hard pruning my limelight tree too. They’ve been so brown that now the flowers almost look black 😢.

[@GardenSanity]

Oh wow. 😮 How frustrating. If it’s a newly planted tree, hold off doing any pruning until the early Spring if you can. Doing so might stress the young tree more. You can remove the leaves by hand (or with pruners) but leave the stems to see what grows next Spring.🌿 And if you already pruned by the time you read this, that’s ok, don’t worry you did something wrong. It’s just with newly planted trees, we need the roots to get established and so as little “stress” as possible to the tree for the first season we’re just concluding. Whether pruned now or next Spring, your tree should produce nice healthy stems that hopefully continue to grow stronger and thicker over the coming years. 🌳 Please keep me posted! (And I hope your Bobo improves too. This Summer was brutal!) ❤️‍🩹

[@paulineanderson3985]

Oddly enough my Phantom hydrangea shrub is doing the same thing, been in the same spot for about five years, part of it has died back, i'm getting ready to dig it out to see what is going on. Zone 5 Ontario, Canada.

[@GardenSanity]

How has your Summer weather been Pauline? I always (oftentimes wrongly) assume you have cooler Summers in Ontario versus down here in southern New Jersey. Hope your Phantom is OK, as they are lovely shrubs. 🤞🌿

[@wendyostlund3482]

I’m dealing with the same thing here in zone 8b Alabama.

[@GardenSanity]

Sorry this is happening to your tree 😟 but these comments are beginning to tell me I’m not alone in this! ❤️‍🩹

[@krisfromindy6769]

My little lime in its 3rd year did the same but my leaves turned yellow and just dropped all within 2 weeks time. It still has some green leaves around the flower heads. I was told is was because of the record rainfall we got in zone6a. I was also told not to fertilize it. I always fertilize in the Spring. I think after watching your video, I may get out my holly tone and at least give it a try. So interesting that several are talking about similar issues this year.😢

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Kris! So it happened to you too. 😟 You described what my leaves did: most yellow fell off, but many remained and turned brown. I think the heavy (and large amount of) rain throughout the Spring and Summer definitely contributed to the large amount of yellow leaves this year. I never fertilize in late Summer either, but since I was already putting down Iron-tone - which has some fertilizer in it - I figured what the heck and added some Holly-tone. We have long mild Fall seasons here, so I think it should be OK to use some fertilizer. (Watch: we will have a super-early freeze this Fall, just to mess with me!) 🤣 Keep me posted, and I’ll do the same. ❤️‍🩹

[@krisfromindy6769]

@@GardenSanitywhat’s exactly does the iron help with? I’ll see if I can find that

[@GardenSanity]

@krisfromindy6769 It helps green up plants that might be suffering from chlorosis (yellowing leaves). Some yellow leaves on our hydrangeas is normal. But, it was the green color on mine that was horrible - almost a bright green, just didn’t look healthy. If you watch the video where I showed what they looked like last year, the leaf color was much deeper and greener. I had some yellow leaves too, but the majority were green and healthy. Iron-tone is organic and works a bit slower than other iron products. I thought I’d try it, and see if it helps.🤞

[@brkfstinbed]

Same thing for me in zone 6b with my little limes ! Only difference is the leaves went from a light green to yellow , brown and then fell off. All within a couple weeks recently as well. So you think it’s from all the rain ? I wasn’t sure if was from being overwatered from the rainfall or if I wasn’t watering it enough

[@GardenSanity]

@@brkfstinbed Oh it was definitely from so much rainfall plus I also think the rather sharp drop in temperatures we experienced had some effect. We had such a hot and humid Summer, and then it seemed like we finally had a temperature drop. I thought that would have been welcoming for the trees, but I noticed several different varieties of trees starting with leaves yellowing and dropping off. Maybe they thought it was the Fall season already? But there's no way you could water them so much that they would have that many yellowing leaves. So it wasn't you, it was Mother Nature. 👍 (Not that it makes it any better . . .)

[@sue00009]

Definitely not the approach I would have taken so I’m curious to see how yours turns out. Not that I’m saying you should have done this, but I would have just cut off the flowers to reduce the stress on the tree. 🤔 though I don’t know if that would have made any difference, it’s just what my instinct would have been.

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Sue! I considered cutting the flowers off, but when I saw all of the dead leaves and stems, I figured I’d start there. But yes, you’re right that removing the flowers may have helped too. What I really wish is that it was already next Spring and I could tackle this pruning project completely. 🙃🙂 Thanks for weighing in on this. 🍃💚

[@CameronAnthony-m]

29:04 you can see there are holes in old cuts, this could be some sort of insect problem!

[@GardenSanity]

Ever since we first planted this tree, I’ve noticed that any dead stems will have darker wood in the middle which eventually over a fee years seems to hollow out over time. So I’ve often wondered if there’s some insect enjoying itself. 🤔 But the tree has always thrived for the past 11 years, despite those holes. 🧐 So I keep watching…and even cut up several stems to look inside. Thanks for mentioning and I’ll definitely continue observing. 👍

[@willaerley7140]

Yeah, I think there was just too much upper growth for the root system and trunk to support. Hydrangeas are not naturally trees and that’s a lot of water and nutrients that need to go through that base. I’ve seen some pretty old ones, though, so in time it should be ok. I’m assuming none of your other hydrangeas are looking crispy?

[@GardenSanity]

My other hydrangeas have some brown petals but nothing like this tree. I can’t wait for early Spring: I’m giving this tree a harder pruning than usual. 🤣 My other hydrangeas needed some iron and fertilizer. All are blooming except for my Fire Light Tidbits - planted in 2023 - which is rather disappointing. And a few hydrangeas got hit with spider mites this year. Fun Summer!