Identify the hydrangea type before pruning
Prune bigleaf, oakleaf, and climbing hydrangeas right after flowering
Prune panicle and smooth hydrangeas in late winter or early spring
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased stems first
Cut spent flower heads back to the first pair of healthy buds
Thin out weak, crowded, or crossing stems at the base
Reduce plant size by cutting selected stems back to a healthy set of buds
Avoid heavy pruning on old wood bloomers
Use clean, sharp pruning shears
Disinfect tools between plants if disease is present
Stop pruning after mid to late summer for next season’s bloomers
Remove only a third of the plant at one time when shaping
Dispose of cut material properly