HerabalBetty, Thanks for chiming in. Wow, that is amazing growth in a few years time, even with the deer browsing it. Is it as full at the bottom as it is at the top? Does it spread by runners like a lilac does? What I read says it blooms only on new wood, does that mean that the majority of the blooms are on the top of the shrb and the lower portion is fairly free of blooms? I don't want the base of a shrub that large to look like a vase of flowers if you know what I mean. I appreciate your input. Thanks Thyme2dig, I believe at full size the Pink Diamond is supposed to be about 6x10, a 4-5' x 8-10' shrub would be perfect. The continuous perimeter length (circumference?) of the garden is some thing like 200 ft., this is for sure a case where size matters! It will take a lot of them to form a hedge that long and the cost, depending, could be phenomenal! Pink Diamond is a bit taller than I'd like But I thought that I could probably trim it in late winter while it's dormant since it buds on new growth only. I think that should work. Someone tell me if I'm thiking this all out wrong, please! I have grown Spirea "Gold Mound" when I lived in zone 5 and it was a fabulous shrub. I had around 25 of them encircling my pergola/patio. They looked so smashing with the deep red climbing roses that grew on the pergola. "At this house I have Spirea Jap. "Magic Carpet". They are hardy enough to hang on every year but they have not grown more than 6" in over four years now. If I knew I was getting on that had some growing power and would be zone 3 hardy I buy it in a heart beat. I'll go search the Spireas some more. I'm sure that many more have come out since I last took a look at them! Oh, BTW, the Blue Muffin was long coveted by me. I got one little panicale of Blue seeds before it to croaked. The seeds on that are a LOT darker than they've colorized them in the catalogs. MeMo

I have several of the French hydrangeas "Pia". I love the beautiful small mounds of dark green leaves. Mine are about 3 ft. in diameter and about 14" tall at the highest point. The heads are nice and compact. When planted out, I spaced them about 2 feet apart and now there is approximately 5 in. between the mounds. They are mature, being about 7 years old. I have noticed that if I put any type of fertilizer on them, they do tend to want to be more of a purple color, which is a nice color....but I want pink hydrangeas.... doggone it!! (I will posting a question about that on this site later)

The problem with overplanting a hedge (or any other planting situation, for that matter) is that eventually the plants will suffer for it. Overcrowding as the plants mature can result in disease issues from lack of air circulation and too close proximity, dieback of stems or branches from excessive shading and a generally tangled, congested and unkempt appearance in winter. It is a very hard lesson to learn or trial to endure for many homeowners and/or novice gardeners, but patience truly is a virtue when it comes to gardening or landscaping. In this case, instant gratification with a full and lush hedge after only a few months in the ground is not going to serve you well long run. If you must, Luis' advice about contacting landscapers in your area is good. They have access to the wholesalers who are likely to have large, mature plants available. You won't find them retail and certainly not online. Be prepared to pay for them - plant prices escalate geometrically with age, size and maturity. But do not crowd the spacing - allow the full 6' spread between plants and live with the "gaps" temporarily. Your hedge and its ultimate health and appearance will be far better for it.

Speaking of hydrangeas :)- I moved to The Woodlands 6 years ago, previously lived in Nashville and up in Connecticut. Slowly but surely, I've been learning how to garden in this area. I've primarily stuck to container gardening so far, because everything I've ever put in the ground here seems to die a miserable death (aside from a blue plumbago). I have a lacecap hydrangea that I've had in a large pot since last May. I trimmed it back after blooming, and put it in a shady spot for the summer with a bit of morning sun. It has very healthy, green leaves, and is sprouting new ones like crazy :) I need to know what to do next so that I can hopefully get blooms in the spring/early summer 2012. I want to keep it in the pot so we can enjoy it on our deck. Here's what I need to know; 1) Fertilize now? 2) Top dress with potting soil, peat moss, etc. now? 3) Keep moist or on the dry-side for the winter? 4) Will I need to move it indoors when/if we end up getting consistently cold and wet days this winter? 5) What is the best light for it indoors? 6) Does it need a dormant period to produce blooms in the spring/summer? Any and all suggestions are much appreciated!!!! Thanks!!