For new plantings, they do not look bad. Maintain the soil always mulched with 3-4” of organic mulch past the ever widening drip line. Water the soil -never the leaves- as soon as the soil at a depth of 4” dries out. Do not water if already wet. Use enough water to reach down to a depth of 8” and moisten the soil there. In areas with hot summers, they prefer morning sun only. Consider staking thin stems to minimize bloom flopping. You can also use peony hoops and tomato cages. They can be sensitive to heat stress and wilt leaves a lot in their first summer. Blooms mature and color change depending on the variety and finally turn brown. Pruning is not required but if you do, be aware that they develop flower buds in mid to late spring/summer depending on where you are located. You may need to acidify the soil in some alkaline locations.

What do you mean are they supposed to look like this? I don't see anything wrong with them other than some bare stems, but you just planted them so they need to get themselves rooted in. Give them time. They are tough as nails and never disappoint in their bloom. The over-riding requirement is soil that is not dry.

Have to agree with both above. The Annabelle I have came with the house when purchased in 1985 and I think it was planted when built in 1935. I am in zone 5b, Milwaukee WI so cold winters. This hydrangea is on the NE side of my house. It’s mostly shaded all day until late afternoon to sunset. I do absolutely nothing to care for it, maybe occasional watering, but that’s it. It comes back every year. So, I guess I am saying like Luis and mxk3, give it time to develop and consider your light conditions for it. There are many ways to provide shade if needed in your garden. Otherwise, BE PATIENT. ☺️

debra

Thank you everyone! i guess im caught up on thr fact that they are green and thr new ones are white.

The first emergence of the bloom starts out tinted green but matures to white.

The only issue I see is that they look very lonely. They are surrounded by a desert of mulch. Give them some companions to provide an attractive context, to add variety of height and texture, to help control the micro climate and to distract from the odd bare stem.