It's said to be better to leave the old flowers on ,Kev,to protect the new buds,from harsh weather..I don't have any Hydrangeas,but I think you take them off in Spring..any old dead wood can be removed at this time..

That's right. Cut them above a good bud. that's all you need to do as your bush is nicely shaped already. When it gets older you can cut out one or two of the oldest branches to just above the ground.

Hi, agree with Bloomer, leave the old flowers on until spring, then cut back to the first 2 healthy buds underneath the old flower, on larger shrubs you can cut about 1/4 to 1/3 of the oldest flowered shoots to the base, to encourage replacement growth, Derek.

Hi Sue, you must type faster than me, there was only 1 reply when I started :-) Derek.

Frustrating Derek - but glad we agreed anyway!

:-):-):-)

If you prune it back hard you will remove next years flowers, the old heads help to protect the flower buds over the winter

That's why we advised doing it in March, or whenever the last frosts are over in your area.

Here we ne're cast a clout 'til may be out.....

who knows these days!

A little girl I used to play with sometimes was called May Frost - unfortunate eh?

Hi Pam, in my area, the saying is, "the may" meaning the flower of the Hawthorn, usually in may, Derek.

thanks folks keep the pruner's in the shed then thank you