Hi there I just planted three limelight trees in my backyard on August 14 I live in Ontario avd the soil is clay .we have had so much rain and a huge storm last Thursday night which was torrential for at least two hours my one tree is so flooded out the leaves are all wilted are turning yellow the soil is so wet I have tried to dry it out with not much luck . The tree looks bad what can I do do not want it to die. Can I uproot the tree remove all the wet soil and replant it slightly higher in the same area . Today is August 29 thank you
Oh dear!! Poor you and your poor hydrangea.
The best time for hydrangea transplanting is just after the standard has gone dormant in the autumn. This means the flowers have all died back and most, or all, of the leaves have dropped. In cooler climates like ours, the best time for moving hydrangeas is November, when the standard is dormant but the ground is not yet frozen solid.
While this is the best time for moving hydrangeas, you can really do it any time during the year without killing the plant, provided it’s not in the heat of summer. In your case, it sounds that poor drainage is causing a rapid decline of your standard. When selecting a new location, ensure good drainage by adding water to the hole and seeing how quickly it drains. If your clay soil is very compacted, you may need to add compost to improve it.
I am including an article written by Toronto Master Gardeners on hydrangeas which you may find helpful and few questions asked on your cultivar.
https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/limelight-hydrangea-standard-splayed/
https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/lime-light-hydrangea/#:~:text=Hydrangea%20paniculata%20“Limelight”\%20blooms%20on,in%20winter%20or%20early%20spring.
We wish you every success.