Oak-Leaf-Hydrangea

[DinaJean]

We chopped this baby to the ground when we got the property 2 years ago...it was just huge and out of control. It has come back gorgeous, I think. It blooms profusely and appears very healthy. Even survived a pretty bad Japanese Beatle infestation. But do you think the form looks right? I dont really know how to prune this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And I think I am not supposed to prune until the flowers fade? The flowers have been the cinnamon color now rather than white for over a month now, will they fall off eventually? I dont even know if this is deciduous or not, I have never seen it through a whole year yet.* Sorry to babble, here is the pix, any tips would be awesome. Thanks Dina :)

[Newt]

Wow, that's a pretty good looking shrub for one that was neglected. It does look a little lopsided.* They are decicuous and the leaves turn nice colors in the fall if they get enough sun.* They bloom on old wood (previous year) so if you prune it for shape you may not have blooms on those branches next year.* I'd wait until the leaves drop to prune.* You can remove spent blooms at any time.* Here's some info on them.
http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/oakleaf.html

Prune them using method 1 here.
http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/pruning.html

Btw, it's best to rejuvinate them by pruning 1/3 of the oldest branches to the ground each year for 3 years.* That way you'll still have flowers.* That's the same way to rejuvinate viburnums and lilacs.

Newt

[Quirky Quercus]

That looks right to me. I have a couple of these in a dwarf variety that supposed to only get 3'x3' only they are probably a bit bigger than that and are only a couple years since planted.* They are very fast growing and vigorous. At least for me