Property in zone 5, a few gardening questions?

Hi

We are in zone 5 (south eastern Ontario, Canada). I am wondering how to take care of some Hydrangea I planted last fall. The flower heads were left on all winter and now these shrubs are brown and dry. Do I cut the flower heads off now? should I cut the whole plant down or.....do I just leave it until I see the leaves come back? Also, my lawn (if you can call it that) is just mowed weeds. The soil is sandy in most parts. Where do I begin to improve my lawn to something I can walk on barefoot someday (short of ripping it all up and putting down sod). Its almost 2 acres of cut weeds and we are surrounded by a forest.



Any help with where I should begin would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Property in zone 5, a few gardening questions?
1. Hydrangea

http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/hydra...



2. Lawn

It would be best to let a professional lawn service or landscaper put in a lawn for you the first time. Be sure to ask them how to take care of it.



It would also be best to put in an automatic lawn sprinkler system because water is what makes a lawn pretty. It is a must to have a good weekly watering and mowing schedule.



But if you want to do it yourself, go here:

How to grow a lawn, click this link

http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Lawn-Easil...
Reply:for ur hydrngeas- cut them back after the frost has gotten it and made it wilt - they will come out even bigger in spring
Reply:keep the heads and what ever you do DONT EVER cut off the stems. hydraneas bloom only on old wood so if the stalks were cut it wouldnot flower that entire year. they make new leaves from the stalks when 70s and 60s are seen as day temps. this will happen in your area around may and your bush will have blooms but early july





for your lawn maybe some soy grass . this grass is so ugly in the winter and looks nothing more than straw. then in mid may your lawn will be the GREENEST lawn on the block. the only bad thing is is that it is the last to come back and the first to die, but it is worth it. the grass is like a rug.



for planting the grass you may need those carpets with grass already planted on the rug.



for watering although a bit costly a underground sprinkeler system will keep your grass greener longer.