What to do with my hydrangea?

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

Appreciate the photo isn't great, but I'm not sure what's the right approach re: pruning.

First, I'm not sure if it's the right time of year for this, I have read late winter/early spring is ok once frosts have gone.

My main issue is that there is a mix of pale grey branches and darker brown branches, the latter with bud growth. Assuming the lighter branches are dead I want to prune. However, the dark brown branches are all growing from the seemingly dead branches. So if I prune I will have to get rid of everything.

What is the best thing to do?

Leave it. You don't have to prune. If space is an issue just 'tip' all the branches and see what happens. It'll be fine.

Cut above the healthy leaves. If you want to thin it out a bit cut the oldest stems at the base. You've not left it too late, I'v only done two of mine so far.

The only healthy leaves are on very new branches which don't really require pruning.

It's all the paler grey wood I want to cut back but if I do that I'll be getting rid of all the new growth as explained in my OP.

Just cut the paler wood off above where it branches into the darker new wood. There looks to be quite a lot that can be removed without getting rid of the new growth.

Hydrangeas flower on last year's wood. I guess you thin it out, rather than taking all of it.

Thanks, will give that a go

What I do to mine is to take off the old blooms down to the next new bud coming on the stem.

I then take out grey stems that have no buds on. Thin stems. Crossing stems. Any other pruning is done to keep a nice shape.

Most of mine were inherited when we moved here they are old and quite big so can take a prune.

If you've got properly old ones they can take any amount of pruning etc. esp if they're in a sunny and bit shady part of the garden (in my exp.) .

I've been fooled by the beauty of the new ones but they haven't been at all happy regardless of treatment and situation I blame the plant breeders who seem to be going for looks not strength.