I typically do not cut back hydrangeas when transplanting. Instead, I water them well the night before and I have the new hole ready ahead of extraction time. I also try to move as much of the root ball and as many of the small roots in the top 4", as these absorb most of the moisture. Annabelles tend to be quite strong and "moveable" but you will need to keep them well watered this Summer; maybe check it and water it more than usua (however you did it when you first planted it).

Since it is an old and large shrub, you want to move as many of the roots as possible. It may pout (wilt), more than before, due to heat/etc and due to having fewer roots than before. Not sure about the impact on bloomage as it may be developing new flower buds now or it may be close to doing that now so... it may abort them and flower less than before. Then again, you do not care so that is ok. Remove any stems or parts that the plant decides to get rid after the move (ie, any stems that dry out and die).

The real best time is to do this when it has gone dormant so in the Fall, winter (if the soil has not frozen) and the Spring (once the soil is no longer frozen).

Get some help so the root ball does not collapse and do not go overboard with fertilizers after the move. Just add mulch and keep the soil as evenly moist as you can. It is ok to "move" any fertilizer pellets that you already had spread; just do not add more until Spring 2018.

Good luck, Luis

Hi Luis, thank you so much for the great advice! I think what I'm going to do is to move it to a LARGE pot instead. I'll follow your advice and try to get as much of the rootball as possible. I ended up purchasing three of the Silver Dollar hydrangeas and wanted to created a hedge with that variety. Annabelle is in the spot where one of the SD hydrangeas would go. What do you think are some good companion plants? I already have Autumn Joy sedum as an edger. I was going to use catmint, but I have catmint everywhere - it's my one of my top five perennials! LOL. I also was planning on having Panicum "Northwind" as a background plant. Another favorite of mine!

i think you might be right. I found a spot for her right next to our small greenhouse. i should be able to water her every day until she perks up on her on. the other spot i was going to plant her is kinda far away from our garden hose. i'm hoping to dig her up today or next weekend. wish me luck! i think she's going to put a good fight! lol

Annabelle will resprout from suckers in the ground if you leave any. You can always pot up a sucker as a just-in-case backup in the event the large shrub doesn't survive. I'd also set up shade for the transplant - my favorite is a lawn chair set where it will provide the most shade midday to midafternoon.

I have several that I wish were in different locations..I dread the work involved..when my sister moved into a house that was in a new neighborhood (no landscaping) her sister-in-law brought over several Annabelles from her own yard..they're beautiful now..I know it's possible to move them but the thought of it makes me tired lol

I decided to wait until next weekend. I was busy planting the last of my wintersown babies - poppies, rudbeckia, foxglove. I'm tired. I don't think I could have moved Annabelle today. Phew!

Well, I just couldn't do it. I couldn't move Annabelle. She looked so happy and full of tiny little buds. I decided to wait until late Fall to move her. I did cut some of her branches very lightly and just planted a Silver dollar hydrangea next to her.

bella rosa..you're so funny!..I can totally relate..some of mine are STILL waiting to be moved..wish I knew why gardeners like to move plants..but we do..

i love to move plants, but once they start blooming or showing signs of blooming, I feel guilty! LOL. It's like the plant is saying, "Please don't move me now. I'm just about to bloom"!

You could also just bare root just about anything you want for the whole season, provided its in about 90% shade. Spritz occasionally if no rain. I've had a burning bush and dwarf H paniculata bare rooted over winter in zone 6 and nothing happened to them.

You can also make more Annabelles by hacking up the crown.