Pee Gee Hydrangea tree not leafing out in spring :(

[chenri]

I have a pee gee hydrangea tree that was planted last summer. To date my tree has not leafed out except for at the base of the tree and the trunk just below the branches is very soft. I noticed this past weekend that other Hydrangea trees are leafing out. Does any one know what the problem is and what I can do to save it. I am a relatively new gardener

[rainbowgardener]

I don't know what's causing this, but hydrangeas are pretty easily rehabilitated by pruning, You can cut an established hydrangea all the way down to the ground and it will come back stronger. In your case, I would think about cutting all the weakened areas out, down to where it is leafing out.