They really DO vary in size!..wonder if your zone is too cold..looks like the 2 on the right died back to the ground..there's expert opinions on this forum..will let them advise you..I'm afraid what I'm thinking is discouraging..I would replace with Annabelles..

Matt, I wonder about Sun does the one on the left get more than the ones on the far right...you should see budding by now.. you could get blooms in Sept., I believe you will need winter protection

Hyed- winter protection means ..?

Lydiahttp://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/winter_protect.html

Water them!!!! Not misting, but use a hose, let the water run until it puddles and then come back and do it again. Dig down in the dirt about one foot or so and check the soil after watering. The water has to be down to the roots, not on the leaves. I would think that you start with the one on the left and then just get weary and give less water to the rest of the row. Or, the soil is not absolutely level or consistent and is running down to the one that looks good. If these were my plants and I wanted to save them, I would dig them up, soak for at least 12 hours (yes, 12 hours!!!) run water into the hole where you take them out and see if it runs through quickly or pools in the hole. This is a really old way of checking for drainage - but it works. Don't worry about root rot - I have soaked hydrangeas for weeks in the same bucket and they are fine. Don't fertilize! Fertilizer is not Gator-Aid for your plants. It is like giving a sick baby a huge bowl of ice cream. When you dig them up, wash off the roots and look for problems like insects or critters eating them from under the soil or the roots circling around from being pot bound at the nursery or box store . I will bet that when you dig they up, the roots will be really dry. After soaking, plant them back or pot them up, put in mostly shade and make sure they stay moist. Good Luck

Thanks a lot...I appreciate all your help.

luis_pr - these are close ups of the the two weakest ones...do you still think they could make it in 1 to 3 years? The branches have some green to them at the base. Does this mean they are alive?

"New York" has like 5 or more USDA hardiness zones, just so you know...

In late Fall pile leaves agains the fence until you can't see the stems. Re-pile on 1/31. Un-pile on 5/10. That ought to do it!

Or if you don't want to do the winter protection thing and are fine with white, lime and pink, look at H arborescens like Annabelle if there is afternoon shade or some of the smaller H. paniculata such as Bobo, Little Quickfire, or Little Lime.

Yes they are still alive. The old stems dried out and died during winter but the roots are alive. New growth (stems) is now coming from the crown. You can prune the dead stems if they do not leaf out by the end of May. Winter protection can help prevent dieback.