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Mopheads
Dead flowerheads of mophead hydrangeas can be removed after flowering, but it is better to leave them on the plant over winter as they will provide some frost protection for the rather tender growth buds below them. Instead, remove the dead flowerheads in early spring, cutting back to the first strong, healthy pair of buds lower down the stem (left top).
If there is any frost damage in spring, prune back damaged shoots to just above the first undamaged pair of buds on live, healthy wood. Also remove any weak, straggly stems (left bottom).
Lacecaps
Lacecaps are hardier and need less pruning, though faded flowerheads can be cut back to the second pair of leaves below the head in order to prevent seed developing.
Other hydrangeas
H. paniculata can be left unpruned or cut back annually in late winter to a low framework to obtain larger, but fewer, panicles of flowers.
The climbing hydrangea (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris) should have overlong shoots cut back immediately after flowering.