How to Grow Hydrangeas for Days

Summer is in full bloom here in Annapolis. While we are in the final stages of renovation, I thought it was time to share ALL the work we have done on the exterior of our home too. One of these days I’m going to be one massive before and after post, but for now I’m going to focus on one of our favorite improvements… the Garden.

Our Hillbrook Collections garden shed was delivered last June as I knew that I needed a creative spot to escape when I am working from home in the Summers. Our plans to completely finish the interior was put on hold as we decided to use it as our primary storage shed during construction. It might not be 100% complete but it does set a gorgeous backdrop for our garden and soon to be hydrangea hedge. One of the first things we did upon purchasing our house was rip out all the overgrowth, cut down dead trees and cut back the ivy. I really wish I wouldn’t have been so eager to rip out the ivy as we are now working on hiding a rather ugly metal fence that belongs to the HOA and can not be removed. Since we have our front landscaping where we want it, it was time to work on the backyard. Limelight hydrangeas were my number one choice for the back hedge. Once they establish, limelights can grow up to 6-8 feet high. Creating all the privacy without all the cost of a new fence! Our front hydrangeas are a variety with bright white blooms that pop early in late May-early June. Then they turn Green when things heat up in July. Timing is everything when it comes to hydrangeas! Our Limelights really start to shine as our front hydrangeas start to fade. We are still working on balancing out all of our white flowering shrubs with boxwoods, hostas & purple flowering perennials. Take a look at the gallery below to see what else we have in bloom this year! So much progress has happened in the past 3 years. It can be intimidating to start but once you see the progress each season brings its hard to stop planting!