Question
I live in zone 5. About 18mo ago I planted a PeeGee hydrangia. I want to make it into a tree. How do I prune it so it will grow into a tree?  Should I stake or support the main stems to grow straight until the trunk is strong enough to maintain on its own?
Thank you
Judy

Answer
Hello Judy. A Pee Gee Hydrangea shrub cannot typically be pruned into a tree form. the Pee Gee Hydrangea Tree that you may have seen is actually a graft of a Pee Gee Hydrangea shrub, and another plant that grows in a tree form. the shrub is grafted onto a "standard", which allows it to grow in a tree form. the only way to get a tree form is to buy one from a nursery, or try and graft one yourself.
If you want a Pee Gee tree, your best bet would be to go to a garden center and purchase one. Your Existing shrub could be moved to another location (do so in the spring for best results although it may not flower this year if moved), and plant the tree form in its place. I hope I have helped a little bit, sorry there are no pruning tricks for this plant, but it is not a bonsi type plant, and I dont think it will do well, nor look at all good if you started to trim to much of it up in an atempt to make it look like a tree.  Good luck and Happy gardening.


Mark