I don't prune so much as groom. I just pull off the old ratty stuff - if you wait until this time of the year (opposed to the fall), it pulls right off/out with a good yank. Or you can use pruners if you want to be more delicate about it. Just cut or yank. No need to be fussy with these, they'll be fine - if any gets uprooted just tamp it back into place.

Had a garden with a large patch of lamb's ear right by the front door.

Removed the flower spikes after flowering and it looked OK after that.

I never leave garden clean up till the next spring.

I do what mxk3 does. Spring clean-up by pulling the dead stuff off, except if I uproot some they go in the compost...they're spreading too much for me. These are tough plants and they can take quite a bit.

tj

I don't do spring clean-up at all. In the very late fall I cut everything down. Some I do by hand and some I just mow. I leave all the cuttings lay right where they are for mulch (and have never had problems with disease). In the spring, I spread the dead stuff around into the bare spots for mulch.

I seldom use 'killer stuff' unless I am creating a new bed --- then Round-Up or similar products do the job for me. If I have more time, I just smother the new beds with hay in late summer/fall so by spring I can plant.

I third the "grooming" approach. I just did mine and it was half-ratty and half nice with some new growth. I just yank off the ratty soft leaves and leave what looks good.

I try to avoid doing spring clean up too early on my flower beds. I feel the "ratty" stuff insulated the plants over winter and when Spring weather/temps fluctuate so often, and new growth begins, the ratty stuff protects it.

With tough ole Lambs Ears however, in the early Spring I rake the spent leaves off any day it's nice and I have the time. In my garden, once established, It's difficult to irreparably damage Lambs ear.
hth,
Deb