Black stem hydrangea help, please!

[~Lori]

I just bought a black stem hydrangea off the "bargain rack" at Home Depot. I know. It's shameful. I figured though, at a price of $5, I could afford to lose it should it up and croak on me. It obviously has SOME sort of malady. There are grayish, mildewy looking spots on the leaves. What do I need to do to nurse this pretty shrub back to health? A fungicide of some sort? Should I remove the affected leaves? Cut it back? HELP! I posted a picture of the leaf spots on alt.binaries.pictures.gardens, as well. Thanks!

[Sunflower]

Mildew is ugly, but it's not going to kill the plant. The best thing you can do is to find a good spot for it in partial shade with lots of loam and plant it. Keep it well watered this year and expect some transplant shock. It'll be just fine next year, but it may take several seasons in order to mature enough to bloom. If you live in a cold climate, you may have to winter protect it in order to see blooms.