No reason why it shouldn't :-) Shrubs are not typically considered established until their third growing season.....and many take even longer than that. Also those that get planted just at the start of a hot summer period - June - generally struggle a bit compared to shrubs that are planted in cooler spring or fall temps.

Just make sure it goes into winter adequately hydrated and supply the water it needs during the growing season. If mosquitoes are an issue, try some remote watering methods, like a soaker hose or drip irrigation. And mulch well. Generally, fertilization is not an issue - a good organic mulch, especially compost, will take care of any nutrient needs. Or you can apply a standard garden fert in early spring if you feel the need to.

Little off topic but +1 for investing in drip irrigation. Every morning I'd have to get up an extra 20 mins earlier and go out and water the garden. I got tired of doing that very quickly and installed a drip irrigation system with a mechanical hose timer. 20 minutes got converted into 5 seconds worth of work!

You can also get the battery powered timers where you can program a schedule but I've read tons of horror stories on Amazon/HomeDepot/Lowes. They seem to have a pretty high failure rate with the valve not opening or not fully closing.

It should be able to handle its own thru winter but I would put some mulch, 2-4" up to the drip line.

Down here, I have concluded that it is the worst drought tolerant hydrangea so trust me in that it needs consistent watering should it become dry for a while. Since I live in a heat challenged location, this is important for me but, on other locations where it may rain often enough, it should not have a problem. Make sure if it watered should you get another dry spell like in the last few years.

I lost one during winter when the drip irrigation failed for a few weeks and it probably dried out while dormant and while it got no moisture. This summer, I lost another one that was potted to keep its width somewhat under control. I failed to water it enough and it has not responded since. Slightly odd as nearby potted mopheads, another Anna and a planted oakleaf.

Only time will tell but it may still be ok. What I do with Annabelle is that once it drops all of its leaves in the fall and goes dormant I cut the stems to the ground. That gives it a fresh start next season.

that also encourages bigger blooms.

Thank you all!

How short should I leave the stems when I prune?

Thank you for all the advice!

I think I messed up on the water over the summer. I didn't water enough.

It is not the heat and humidity that bothers me here - but the mosquitoes in our backyard.I can only stay outside for so long during the summer - before they devour me.

The city doesn't spray - we sprayed privately but it doesn't last...they are back in 2 week top; and they are an absolute terror.

I avoid going outside to water just because of that. We have a pretty deck and flower bed in the backyard yet we can't enjoy it for the most part of the warm season because of mosquitoes.

Even now with temps in the 60's, they are still buzzing around. I can't wait for a serious drop in temp to kill them all.

I will look into the drip hose next season. Thank you again.

My advice about your mosquitos is to be dead serious about removing EVERY source of water where they can breed -- even small saucers, bromeliads, an upturned cap. Also put up a bat house. If Singapore can control mosquitos, so can you.

You can prune late winter/early spring if you prefer. The way I do it I don’t leave any stems, I cut them right to the ground. That way the plant comes up fresh and blooms are bigger.

It can take about 3 seasons for Anabelle to establish but once it does it grows fast once soil warms up enough in the spring.

" Every morning I'd have to get up an extra 20 mins earlier and go out and water the garden"

Hoo ha!! It takes me three hours to hand water my back yard and that isn't including any of the lawn. No wonder I decided to replace some of the more thirsty varieties of macrophyllas with less demanding types.

The bugs were horrifically bad this season- even covering up with clothing I bought more insect repellent this year than all other years combined. And benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. Still a very itchy year.

What triggered this "growth" in mosquitoes in KY? I am concerned over here due to the unusually heavy amt of rain we have had. It is so rainy that maybe just soooo much rain will -ha!- make it difficult for them to develop! Hee hee hee! Oh me. It just does not feel like a normal fall this year with just so much rain. A good temp drop may help kill any eggs if people forget to ck containers with water!

3 hours worth of hand watering........ wow..... 1 hour more and that's half a work day!

Begonia, you don’t mention how much sun it gets. In your zone, it won’t be happy with a lot of sun, especially during the hardest part of the day. Morning sun or bright shade or dappled sun will make it happy, along with regular water until it is established and a good layer of organic mulch.

Not that much. It gets some morning to noon sun, some of which is dappled - then the sun goes on the other side of the house.

It is correctly placed but in the hot summer months in the south, it will still need consistent watering; which again, I don't think I've been so good at due to the above mentioned mosquitoes.

It looks like I've been in good company though.

If the city doesn't spray well from above (which now apparently many people oppose) - it's basically a losing battle with the mosquitoes.