The best you could do is get the plant into nearly all-day shade and start watering lightly and then moderately until Fall. Then hope it recovers. Do not fertilize, do not attempt sunny or overly dry/ windy locations.

I had one such plant but with no green leaves left last year. As soon as the summer temperatures moderated in the Fall, I saw two green leaves around early Oct. The plant went dormant a month later or so. This year, it recovered and had more leaves. If you were to live in a location where your growing season is shorter, the hydrangea may not have time to produce new leaves now but might do it in Spring 2013 so maintain the soil as evenly moist as you can and keep it well mulched. Once the plant goes dormant, you can reduce watering to once a week or once every two weeks, as long as your winter is dry and the soil has not frozen.

Thank you both! I will move my hydrangea to the shade, water carefully and hope.

Since I have your attention, may I bother you with another question? I am in zone 5 in New York State. I have the hydrangeas in large pots to bring life to a large patio that is all stone - no soil to plant anything. Winters here are harsh here, however. Do you think these plants have a chance of surviving winter if I plant them somewhere else around here in late fall or bring them into a garage? What would you recommend?

I have seen limelights in pots survive winter but then this was a mild winter. I just wouldn't risk it without proper insulation and near a protective space *away from strong winds*. Roots can get exposed to deep cold, and the freezing and thawing can destroy it further. I also wouldn't bring them into a garage. Hydrangeas do need the cold to keep healthy. You can 'bury' the container in a pile of mulch if you wish to keep your hydrangea. This will mimic the plant being the ground.

Thank you, Ianna! I have the option of actually burying the pot in the ground. Would this be more helpful or would the mulch insulation do the job?

burying the pot would be safer, even if only half buried, then heap your mulch around and over it.

Thank you!!!