I hope you are still checking messages here, becoz I just found this one several days later.
Some hydrangeas like shade and lots of water, and some take sun and dryer conditions. Limelight hydrangea for example does great for me in full sun and not much irrigation.
HOwever, you might need to research your particular hydrangea, and when is best time to prune. Some bloom on old wood, some on new wood, and some on both. I get confused, as I do with clematis and have to look it up often or write in my garden book when to prune.
I think if you moved in early spring, that would be fine, first find out when is best time to prune.