Hydrangea

[hollyisalovelyname]

Please help.
Do I cut back hydrangeas or do I leave them to die back themselves.
They are looking very straggly.
Thanks in advance.

depends what sort they are. if they are mophead (big flowers that are ball shaped) then just cut the dead flower heads off and any especially week/broken stems down to the ground.

They have big hydrangea flowers but I don't think they are mop heads.

so similar to mop heads, but flat flowers? In which case do as i suggested for mop heads. Not cone shaped - as these need a different treatment?

Thank you.
No they are not cone shaped.

Leave them on. In the winter and spring , the dried flower heads protect emerging shoots from the frost.