Identify the hydrangea type before pruning
Prune bigleaf, oakleaf, mountain, and climbing hydrangeas lightly
Remove only dead, damaged, or weak stems on old wood bloomers
Cut spent flower heads just above the first healthy pair of buds
Prune panicle and smooth hydrangeas more heavily if needed
Cut panicle and smooth hydrangea stems back by about one-third
Remove crossing, crowded, or inward-growing branches
Use clean, sharp pruning shears
Make cuts just above a healthy bud or branch junction
Stop pruning once new growth has started strongly
Remove any frost-damaged tips after the last hard freeze
Disinfect tools between plants if disease is present