It looks like a very open and very sunny exposure for a hydrangea. And the white fence is just tossing back a lot of reflected heat so heat/sun scorching is a definite possibility. Yes, it will 'fix' itself, at least temporarily, but the same situation is likely to occur again with very warm temps. Does the plant absolutely need to be in this location? I think it would be a lot happier in a more protected (and a quite a bit larger) space that afforded some protection from afternoon sun when it and the heat is the most intense.

Yes it pretty much has to be left where it is. Maybe I'll put a non-reflective surface behind it?

You could try 30% shade cloth and put it above, at an angle to shade the plant and the wall and provide afternoon shade.

I just realized that I may have left out some crucial information that just dawned on me; prior to finding the "burn" pattern on my Hydrangea I sprinkled the plant with some water that was left at the bottom of a window box that was full of fresh horse manure. The pattern of decay on my Hydrangea seems coincide with the pattern that the horse manure water was applied. It's been a few weeks now and the plant looks like it is coming back. Could the manure soaked water have been the culprit? BTW; I did put a non-reflective surface between the white fence and the plant.

Hmm, I do not know. I have sometimes spread compost and composted manure by throwing them around the shrubs in a circular pattern and do not remember seeing issues. I would have expected some of these materials to have ended in the plant leaves. Since I do this on days prior to heavy rains, I would think I may have noticed a similar problem. Then again, I was not looking for any problems and maybe I missed them then. I also water the plant leaves sometimes with liquid seaweed or liquid fish and that has not been a problem either.

The reflected sunlight heat is what seems to be causing my problem. Would a Bamboo Panel installed behind my Hydrangea alleviate that problem? So, my question is, does Bamboo reflect heat?

You could stack mattresses around it but the spot is still wrong for the plant. You're gonna be fighting an uphill battle for as long as the thing lives, which IMO won't be all that long.

I do have a spot that may work but moving the plant worries me; but if that is my only option I'll give it a try. The worst case scenario is that it dies where it is, or it doesn't survive the move. When would be the best time of year to move it? Should I try to protect it until the optimum transplanting time?

I called in a gardener/landscaper to move the hydrangea; He wanted to know why I was moving it. He said that an otherwise healthy hydrangea should tolerate, but thrive in direct sunlight. I left it there and it is doing grand. The problem had to be the water from the fresh manure that I poured on it. With all due respect to all who post here; I would check out any advice posted on this or any type of forum. Posters make recommendations on the limited facts that we give them. I'm glad I didn't move my hydrangea.

You DO realize that the posters on this (and other forums) are often landscape professionals themselves.........or degreed horticulturists or avid and very experienced collectors??

If you are implying that the advice given to you was somehow lacking in validity and your "gardener" is right and we were all wrong, then you are sorely mistaken.

You are welcome and correct that we are working on limited facts.

As GG48 said we have lots of experience and training, but we aren't there and you have to decide what to do in your own garden. The only way to know where this plant will be happiest over time ias to plant another in a less stressful situation and see which looks better in a few years.

Is this a paniculata?..I tried enlarging but the pic seems a bit out of focus..IF it's a paniculata the sunny location is good but there's not enough space for it..do you know the name of this hydrangea?

I have often gotten very good advice from this and other forums; I meant no disrespect and said that the advice I was given was appreciated and based on one photo so I make no assumptions about the generous people that share their expertise and apologize if I offended anyone.

Your hydrangea looks much better!..I can see from this pic that it's a macrophylla..

nicholsworth55(Indianapolis6a) Can a "macrophylla" tolerate full sun? The plant is doing well but seems to need a lot of water.

macrophyllas like morning sun and afternoon shade..I would move it..do a careful job digging it out and replanting..it would be fine..I've successfully moved plants in the summer..just keep an eye on them..