Free? Who can pass up free? Do you know what type they are?

I would prep the holes ahead of time, cut them back some, dig the root ball as big as possible, wrap in burlap (available at HD, garden centers, etc.) and plant them that day. If you transport them in an open vehicle (like a truck or open trailer) you MUST cover them with a tarp or something or the wind will dry them up to nothing. Buy a dripper hose ahead of time (HD has the flat ones, very cheap) and use that to keep them well watered.

Heck I move a mature butterfly bush right before the heat wave last week and it looks like it will make it. Hydrangea are much easier to move!

Thanks for your follow up. I dug up four of them - she said they were 50 years old! They are tall and look pretty bushy - white/green flowers on them. She had cut down the ones that I dug, but there were others still there. They're in the ground now soaking up the water.

Sounds like they might be Annabelles. If they are happy they will get much bigger with time.

Ben! I just got the same thing! Annabelles, I'm sure. I love freecycle! I just posted a thread because mine were sickly looking. I wasn't sure about snipping them back but now I will. Thanks.