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Moving a hydrangea

17 years ago

About three years ago I was given an hydrangea shrub as a gift,but it hasn't grown an inch,and hasn't produced a single bloom.

I'm thinking that maybe it doesn't like the spot I planted it in.It gets about a half day of sunlight.

In my area it's just starting to put out leaves,but barely.

Is it a good idea to transplant this little shrub at this time of the year,or should I wait until fall?

We get some very cold winters here,but usually very little snow.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Comments (2)

ego45
17 years ago
You could transplant hydrangea any time of the year for as long as grounds are workable, though spring and fall are better time than the mid-summer.
vignewood
17 years ago
Hi, I have two hydrangeas that were getting too much sun in my backyard and were wilting every day. They bloomed very little. I decided that I would move them or lose them. I transplanted them into a border in front of my house in the partial shade in the early spring and they loved it. They bloomed profusely the first year and have bloomed with blue, pink and purple flowers ever since. Go for it.
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Here is a site with some pruning tips from a couple of very experienced Hydrangea growers, Kristin & David VanHoose at HydrangeasPlus. I have used this method and it works very well. However, I did not move any of mine. Sorry to say that I mistakenly purchased a Sister Theresa from a local highly recommended source and it was a dud. Nurtured it for several years and it never grew larger or produced any blooms. It is now compost somewhere in the garden. A different replacement cultivar, from HydrangeasPlus was planted in the same location and it is now a very large shrub, covered in blooms each year. BTW, 10 other Hydrangeas, a total of 11 of 12, purchased from that same local source, wound up in the compost heap. Either, they died or never grew larger and never bloomed. Rb Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning Tips
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The experts' rule-of-thumb is during dormant period, in the Fall or early Spring before they wake up. Before I knew any better, I've moved a few beauties around (at less than ideal times) as long as I get the entire root ball & with a lot of TLC ... moved 2 ESs 3x, F&E 2x, 2 Serratas in late Spring... they were young & it was easy to dig up the entire ball as if I was just moving a huge pot from 1 spot to a better one (I was blest!) ... DON'T follow my ignorant lead, unless you won't mind losing you beauty. I have an old Nikko I'm thinking to move, but fear the risk of losing 2 stems, on ground-layering status since 1st of June. If I toughen my chicken nature, I might still ... around mid-Nov ... & cross fingers/talking to Hydrangea gods all Winter!!! LOL A very old shrub would be difficult to move w/out some damage to roots! Experts will be responding soon! Good Luck!
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Good idea. I am going up there this coming week so I will take some pics and try to get them on here. She is pretty geeked to think I am getting 'expert' help in keeping this baby alive. They were only married 8 years but they were the best 8 years of her life. Since she eventually wants to come live with me it'd be great to have this thing growing and blooming. Thanks everyone. Miriah
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Thank you for the advice! The leaves are not wilting, its the blooms that are turning brown. I keep running into big healthy hydrangea plants all over town that are out in the middle of sun, no chance of shade and they are fabulous! I don't know why mine are having such a hard time. I wonder if it is the Endless Summer variety? My Annabelle is HUGE full of blooms with no sensitivity to sun. All planted on the same day. Is it because it is their first year and they will be more established next year?
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