If the leaves are turning yellow and falling then you do not have iron chlorosis. But you may still have a moisture issue with the rootball. The rootball needs to be kept moist. If allowed to dry, you would have to add water like in drip irrigation where you water deeply and slowly. Add about 1 gallon of water per watering; 30-50% more if your soil is sandy. Mulch heavily, about 3-4" past the drip line.

There have been some unexplained cases of tree hydrangeas doing this sort of thing so maintain adequate soil moisture and do not fertilize as the plant is now undergoing transplant shock.

The temperatures that you describe should not have been a big deal to the plant and they should not induce dormancy yet.

By any chance, when you planted it, did you check to make sure that the plant's roots were not circling in the pot (root bound?). Also, have you had a soil test done within the last 5 years or so? Just checking other possibilities...

Have a good day, fishnmaine!

Soil has not been tested new home been here only 8 months. But were we planted had some excavating gravel and original earth but we had about 8 in of loam on top. The root ball was moist I watered plenty i know that. I did not add any fertilizer. Was told not to... And yes I loosened all the roots when it was taken out of the pot. Is there testers out there to see what the ground measures?
Iron chlorosis so you add this stuff if there is lack of it? Thanks allot

Iron chlorosis occurs when the leaves turn yellow but the leaves' veins remain dark green. Looks like a skeleton of sorts. When this occurs, the leaves do not fall off (at least right away). They will stay on for a while and will fall if things get worse.

Iron chlorosis occurs when the plant cannot absorb naturally occurring iron in the soil. This happens when the soil has become alkaline. A soil pH measuring kit can help you determine if your soil is acidic, neutral or alkaline.

Hydrangeas suffer from iron chlorosis when the soil is alkaline. You can acidifu the soil using: aluminum sulphate (but this can kill azaleas and rhododendrons so be careful), garden sulphur or liquid iron chelated compounds (available at almost all nurseries).

How many leaves would you say have turned yellow since you bought the plant, fishnmaine? a fourth? half? all?

The leaves just turn yellow and then brown and fall........... no green veins. It finnally stopped....lost almost 3/4 of the leaves. Thanks for the info. Need to get the PH measuring Kit.

Here is the photo of it
[IMG]http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn427/fishnmaine/IMG_2046.jpg[/IMG]