Hydrangea help

Copperdog

I have a couple of nice healthy hydrangeas with lovely strong stems that are around 3/4 ft tall but some of them have very weak spindly growth and are no more than a foot tall. Is it just the variety that makes it grow this way or conditions. As far as I am aware they are all macrophylia or lace cap ones I believe.  they’ve been in the ground for 2 years but aren’t doing much at all. 

Fairygirl

That one looks ok to me, but it's got very little room to grow.

Lyn

If it were mine I would cut back to where I have drawn the red lines, at the middle to end of March.

Guernsey Donkey2

I would do the same as Lyn suggests, the plant is far too leggy and needs to be taken down to the red marks on Lyn's picture. It may not have many flowers this year, but all flowering stems can be cut down and Jan/March is the time to do it providing there isn't frost or snow.

Fairygirl

I'd agree it can certainly be cut back a bit , but I wouldn't do it for a while.

I'm still more concerned about where it is. It doesn't have room, and will need constant pruning to keep it in the spot it's in. 
Perhaps the other planting can be moved instead.

Just my opinion of course 

Lizzie27

I agree with the others but wouldn't move it, the plants nearby look like perennials which should be okay. It might benefit from a good mulch of well-rotted manure around it  (but not touching) - they're are generally greedy plants and also like moisture in the ground.

Copperdog

Thankyou all for your comments and advice.  I will do as @Lyn suggests and take it back a bit further later in the month.  

Lyn

As you live in a warmer area than me, you could cut this back in Mid March.  Providing you haven’t got a frosty spell forecast or you’ll lose the top buds to frost and have to go to the ones lower down, which isn’t a good idea in your hydrangea.