feel free to bash me for chopping this hydrangea out of season
I couldn't stand the lop sided-ness any more. I chopped most of it off....and now I feel better about the tree.
I did save a few hardwood cuttings to see if they would root.
I still might chop the 2 remaining branches tonight, once I stare at it a little more.
The tree is now resting in the shade, where it will remain for the next few weeks.

boah,
I trim trees around the garden any day of the year, as long as no extreme dry, hot or coled weather is expected. Have not lost a single plant yet.

Mr. Pinkham!!! YOU Did What???:ohmy:

Just kidding! As I read your post I was thinking "Yes! You go, Lance!!!" :woohoo: Your little hydrangea looks happy as can be and, you know what?...I probably would have done the same. :whistle:

I'm *rootin'* for ya! *snort* Pardon the pun.

Leslie

D'aaaawwwwww, little trees are always so adorable! :lol: I must agree, it would have driven me crazy too. Good luck getting the cuttings to root!

look at this. I seriously can't believe it. I chopped it back last week to get rid of all the branches and this is what it did. I love this tree again.
I should have followed my gut from the start and chopped it this spring..but no...I had to second guess myself.
Anyway, I'm glad I did it.

Pinkham wrote: look at this. I seriously can't believe it. I chopped it back last week to get rid of all the branches and this is what it did. I love this tree again.
I should have followed my gut from the start and chopped it this spring..but no...I had to second guess myself.
Anyway, I'm glad I did it.

Shes a beauty

Looks good there!

Now would be a good time I think, to decide whether your trunk is ready, and you are going to weed & pinch these your branches a little before they all set too much their pattern, or to let her get a couple of years of growth on her..

With this tree I need to be pretty diligent with training. The branches harden up fast, so Next spring I'm going to clip them down to the first set of leaves and then wire the new growth.

Hi Lance,

The way this has come back is amazing! Well done!

I'm confused tho :S ...I'm not understanding the reasoning in your future plans. You have majorly chopped this plant, and it has come back with a lovely bunch of new growth...I get that part. However, why would you clip back all this new growth when next Spring arrives to create more new growth to wire? What will become of this present new growth once the future new growth comes in? Why not just train this present new growth?

Please know that these questions are not a criticism...they are simply a need for my learning and better understanding the bonsai growing process.

As I've red and think, is that, as Lance said, the branches harden up fast, so it gets more difficult to wire so he's going to clip them back to start sooner with wiring before the branches are too thick to wire.