Moving large shrubs

maypole

I was given a large Hydrangea, it was going to be dug up and thrown away so I got it, have planted it, watered it well but it is looking so droopy and sad. Should I prune it and foresake the flowers this year or might it come good after it settles in a bit. Such a shame it looked so healthy before.

TonyMMM

I would cut quite hard back to a strong bud on each shoot...this is nearly always a god idea when transplanting large plants as it allows the roots to establish in the new position without having a large amount of top growth to support.

Once the roots are happy, the growth will come ..... yes it may mean you only get a few (or no) flowers this year, but the plant will much stronger in coming years.

maypole

TonyMMM wrote: »

I would cut quite hard back to a strong bud on each shoot...this is nearly always a god idea when transplanting large plants as it allows the roots to establish in the new position without having a large amount of top growth to support.

Once the roots are happy, the growth will come ..... yes it may mean you only get a few (or no) flowers this year, but the plant will much stronger in coming years.

Thank you for that. :T I have taken your advice, though I might go and have another check to see if I have done enough:o

Some of it is ok and hasn't drooped so maybe we will get a few flowers at least.

[Deleted User]

I don`t think you should let it flower this year. I would cut each shoot back to it`s lowest bud. It needs to re-build its root system

maypole

kittie wrote: »

I don`t think you should let it flower this year. I would cut each shoot back to it`s lowest bud. It needs to re-build its root system

Thank you

heynonnynonny

Can't believe someone would want to throw away a plant! I hope it rewards you well for saving it!

Jake'sGran

heynonnynonny wrote: »

Can't believe someone would want to throw away a plant! I hope it rewards you well for saving it!

I am not good at throwing plants away but love growing them and giving them away. Maybe the people who disposed of it had something more exotic to put in it's place.
I think the flowers of the mop head hydrangea are amazing. The advice about cutting it down to low buds sounds good to me and if it does succeed, in future years they should be pruned in Spring to a fat bud on each branch. There is one growing near here which has the most beautiful deep blue flowers. Never seen one like it before.

maypole

The people who gave me the Hydrangea have just moved to this house and they are vegetable growers, so when they said the shrub was coming out I nearly snatched their hand off!

I do have a few Hydrangeas in my own garden and I love them them so I am familiar with the pruning of them, but I have never moved one, especially a big mature one and that was my worry:o. Anyway it has had another trim and is looking not so sad, I have no doubt it will survive, just have to wait another year for flowers.

Thank you all for your input:T