I can do it here at any time that the plant has gone dormant. But the ground does not freeze here so consider in the Fall before the ground freezes or in the Spring, before it leafs out. Assume it will act like a newly planted hydrangea in the first summer in its new location (wilting a lot, etc). Try to move as many of the roots -include the surface roots- as possible. I would prepare the new hole first. Water the plant the night before before moving it. Then after moving it, do not fertilize but mulch it well and add winter protection if you normally do that.

Logistically, it's easiest to wait until mid-spring and cut the old canes down to 1-2', just as they're leafing out and moving it then. Otherwise it may be cumbersome to lift/move due to longer canes/presence of leaves, or the plant might suffer from transplant stress.

Also if the root ball is too heavy/big you can cut parts of the edges off or move it along the ground on a piece of plastic sheeting or garbage bag.

Hi..I want to move one of my hydrangea plants in another part of my yard. What time of year is best. I'm not really a green thumb but I try. It's August now..I'm in Connecticut.

When the plant is dormant, it will have less of a transplant shock than if you do it when it is "awake" and in the middle of the summer time. Do it around high temps and it will droop, wilt, complain, pout and look annoyed for a while. ;o))

I live in NC, zone 8a. My ES was struggling so I decided to transplant it. It was late July and really hot. It is about 3 feet tall and 4 -4.5 ft wide. I root pruned it and removed it's flowers. Then I waited almost a week due to weather and preparing the new shadier bed. It didn't wilt or seem to object but I think it is because it likes it's new location so much better. I did keep it really well watered for the first few weeks and I keep a close eye on it and water if we have gone more than a few days with no rain. I am sure it wasn't ideal timing but I think the location was less ideal than the timing. The extra sun it had led to a big plant and with lots of blooms but I had to water it all the time and put up with the afternoon wilting.