Hydrangea serrata (Mountain Hydrangea) - problems since transplant

For a while I've had a couple of Hydrangea serrata (Mountain Hydrangea) growing in a couple of borders (part shade) which were being smothered by some other plants, so I decided to move them a few months ago and now wish I hadn't. Note: I didn't know the type of Hydrangea prior to moving them, in fact I only learned the name today when I looked it up - when I moved them I just thought that all Hydrangeas loved the sun.

The new area has a similar type of soil (a bit 'clay-ish') and it's also full sun all day. I think it's the sun which is causing problems because the leaves are increasingly turning a reddish-brown. Some tiny flower buds have been visible for some time but even these look knackered.

I water them every so often with a good soak from the hose.

There's a party shaded area (sun in the morning only) which I could move them to. Now isn't a good time to move them of course but as they look so bad what have I got to lose? Is it worth giving it a go?

Or is there anything else that I can do to keep them going until the winter and move them then?

 

@TheMadHedger If it was me I would move them now with as big a root ball as possible. Water well before and after and then water regularly until they start to grow away. You might lose this years flowers though.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a go.

 

If it were me I’d dig them out now, and pot them up in a very large container, and really spoil them with lots of water and nutrients and tender loving care until autumn. In autumn replant in a better spot, really preparing the ground well. You should use a 60L container at least, it will rapidly develop a root system. Keep the pot in out of full sun.

Your Hydrangea doesn’t really want full sun, and it hates drying out.

In my experience with H. quercifolia, they do better in large containers than in the ground. I have neutral clay.

 

Thanks very much, I appreciate the advice.

 

BTW, I know it's the wrong time of year but given the circumstances should I prune back some of the very browned growth and the small browning flower buds?

 

Leave any woody growth -- these things can come back to life if they sense that you love them.

 

They respond to the conditions you provide; not how you feel about them.
What ever you decide to do I would wait until they start to shoot and then remove the dead bits; if any. Browning flower buds I would remove.

 

Have you read Supernature? When it first came out I read it and decided to talk to my Swiss cheese plant every day so it would feel the positive vibes.

It died.

 

Thanks, so remove the browning flower buds now?

 

Yes you may as well remove them now.

 

Thanks, will do.

 

Hello, TheMadHedger. I am curious... can you post pictures of this reddish leaf color that you are referring to?

 

I'll try, but it depends on whether my camera feels like working (it's a bit erratic!).

 

I understand. No problem. My camera is temperamental and gives me trouble doing the download of pictures every single time.