Moving a hydrangea from pot to garden

[Katisha]

I think I'd like to move a hydrangea thats been in a pot for years and is a bit leggy into a space in the garden. It would go in a shaded spot next to a large tree.
Can I move it now while it still has flowers on? I think it's supposed to be pruned in the spring.

I would wait for its leaves to fall and it to be in dormancy before I moved it. I would prune it lightly then prune it again in the spring. Bit worried about it being under a large tree though.

Thanks muddyford - is the worry about tree roots/potential dryness?

Useful as I’m thinking of doing the same 😊

I have already moved mine, into a hole in the bank at the bottom of the garden. That was a few weeks ago, and it looks like its doing okay so far. The pot had cracked and broken, so needed to replant asap.

Personally I would move it now. The soil is warm and moist - ideal for roots to get going before temperatures really drop. Do make sure the rootball is wet through to the centre. Depending on the size of it slip it out of the pot and soak in a bucket of water overnight or sit in a saucer of water and keep topping up the water. The roots might need teasing out a bit before it goes in.

We had no choice but to move our very old hydrangea out of its pot (it was very pot bound and dying) at the beginning of the summer. It's thriving now, we're hoping it will survive the winter. We took the chance as it was dying anyway.