Wait until it buds out so you can see what is alive and what is dead, Remove the dead.

I wouldn't do anything until it leafs out fully and you can see what might have suffered permanent damage and what is OK. Hydrangea paniculatas can take some really hard pruning without too much distress :-))

I thought these were perennials. maybe a small shrub. didn’t know they could grow into a tree form

Hydrangea paniculatas are often trained into a standard or a small tree form. The only type of hydrangea that lends itself to this training. And they are definitely shrubs!! Some not so small :-)

Thanks so much for the advice! I will wait and see what returns and what doesn't. And yes, it's a tree. Look them up, they're so pretty!

It will regrow, you bet.

I had to take one of my huge shrub form Limelights right down to six inches after a terrible snow load breakage incident. It grew back so nicely I took the rest of them in the row down last year. They're just beginning to leaf out now and I am very pleased with all the new dormant buds- they're going to look better than ever.

Thanks so much Cearbhaill! Here's hoping :) How long do you think it'll take for the branches to grow back? Also, can it handle being cut right down to the base of the trunk? I'm not sure I can even leave 6 inches as some of the branches are stripped so badly.

Thought Id share a picture of it last year. It was so beautiful! I hope i can restore it to its former glory.

Jo that is beautiful. It might take awhile but I believe it will bounce back

This is how short I took mine back. Remember, these are the ones I cut back this year. The one I chopped last year is out of frame.

And this is how large it grew in one season- it's the one right smack in the foreground. Mine you this was only July but it's the only photo of it I can find. It reached maybe 5 feet.

Thanks NHBabs! That's good advice that I will follow.

Thanks Cearbhaill, it's very helpful seeing your photos for reference. I hope I have the same luck!