Hello hello Ostrich! Still working out that bed eh? Can't believe it's that time of year again. Seems like yesterday that you started that bed. First and foremost, you should follow George's advice about waiting....even though you have some dead branches, she is capable of throwing off many new branches from the existing live wood (even if only the trunk was alive) and she might surprise you yet. Why throw away a season of plant/root establishment if you don't have to? If you're still not happy....For what it's worth, (not much), and based solely on photos, my #1 choice would be the Kyushu. (for all the reasons George mentioned and because I've seen HIS Kyushu pics) If the SM is a similar or "improved" version, I would not hesitate to go with it again either. If other Paniculatas do well in your yard, (and they certainly appear to) then you may have just gotten a dud and should not sour on the whole cultivar. Hopefully, other SM growers will chime in with their observations. Having said that, the (potentially) failed SM as well as the return policy gives you a chance to re-think (second guess?) the bed yet again and do a little more clear headed refining as opposed to the "oh my goodness, I just had to have it" planting that usually transpires when one runs into the latest, greatest hydrangea. Oh, the fun! Yes, you should choose and plan wisely, but you should LOVE whatever you choose. You're the one who has to look at it everyday. Have fun and welcome to a new hydrangea season!....yg ps....Where's the photo album George????? You had all winter to get it together! How can we start another season without those mouth watering photos to get us inspired??? lol

Boy this is strange....Here in zone 9, my Limelight is just barely starting to leaf out. (and this is EARLY for this plant in my yard) I have cut it at this stage many times, even moved it, and still get plenty of new growth and blooms albeit later in the summer. Yours, having leafed out so much earlier, it's hard to say exactly what the cutoff period should be. Technically, the "instructions" are that paniculatas can be pruned in fall, winter, & early spring. Depending on your climate, early spring is subjective. However, bloom buds are easy to spot...as with other hydrangeas, they look like little nodes (loose elongated little broccoli heads) at the ends of a new stem. Disclaimer: When in doubt..as always...leave it be.

Hi there. I am also on the border between zone 4 and 5 in Madison Wi. My plants have all leafed out by now. I would say that they do leaf out more from the ends of the branches but then new growth should start and it should have more leafs. It should be completely hardy where you are but it may be taking some time getting established. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just give it time. As for the bloom time, when it blooms the first year you planted it is probably not a good determining factor. Having said that, I have many varieties of Hydrangea paniculata. My White Moth started blooming last year at the end of June. Angel's Blush was in July. Tardiva was early to mid-August I think.

arlene I am going to plant the wooden fence next year, I have bands that will be ready by then! I am so excited! I have Crep (running joke about how much I love this rose!) Prosperity, and buff beauty. My neighbor on that side (south) is kinda a grumpy old man, but he does take excellent care of his yard. I think he will appreciate the blooms. I am going to run wire along the fence so I can control the canes better. I do have terrible soil in portions of the yard and have really been working on that! The tree roots are just something I have to deal with, but in the heat of summer, some shade is needed in my south Ga garden. Brutally hot and humid. The hurricanes and wind gust have weeded out a few trees for me, thanks mother nature, but I do have a couple we are going to remove. (on a wait list with our tree guy) They are old pines in bad shape that could possibly hit our house. We had one hit the house from straight line winds. We were lucky and had very little damage. We always #prayforthepines in bad weather!! lol