How should I approach severe pruning of a rhododendron plant to ensure its health and vitality?

When severely pruning a rhododendron plant, it's important to do it gradually over a few years to minimize stress on the plant. Start by removing dead or diseased branches, then gradually prune back overgrown branches. Make clean cuts just above a leaf node and avoid cutting into old wood. Provide proper care after pruning, such as watering, fertilizing, and mulching, to help the plant recover and promote new growth.