I planted a potted hydrangea I got as a gift 4 years ago in our mostly sandy soil, that is part of a river rock landscape. The thing blooms forever! I cut it back to 2 feet tall each fall, and by early summer it is filled with beautiful huge blooms. This past week it had a growing spurt and has grown a foot tall through the center of the bush. The blooms are still beautiful and soooo big. I add azalea (blue blossoms) at the start of the season, and every 3 weeks. Come September, they will start to turn green, then die off. That is when I trim it back. I also have one that was originally pink blossoms I received Mothers Day 2015. It bloomed all last year, and this one I did not cut back as it wasn't that tall yet. It has grown to 4 ft this year, but has not blossomed. Bummer. Hoping next year I will see something. The plants are in shade 75% of the day, on the east side of the house. For the one that I start out blue, after 2 feedings I put the pink Azalea/hydrangea fertilizer on it. Purple/blue/pink flowers!! A friend transplanted 2 beautiful large hydrangeas. They never came back.