When Should Lacecap Hydrangeas Be Pruned Back?

Lacecap hydrangeas, known for their blue or pink flowers, are best pruned in the summertime. They bloom on old wood and can be safely pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This timing allows for the removal of dead or damaged stems. Lacecap hydrangeas tolerate severe pruning, but if your lacecap shrub is older and doesn’t flower much, revitalize it by trimming off a third of the stems at ground level.

To plant, grow, and care for lacecap hydrangeas, start by removing dead flowerheads in early spring. For hardier varieties, cut back the stem to the first strong, healthy pair of buds down from the faded bloom. For those that bloom on old wood, wait until after plants have finished flowering. For rebloomers, it is best to avoid pruning altogether.

When pruning lacecap hydrangeas, most pruning should be done in late winter or early spring. However, climbing hydrangeas are pruned after flowering in summer. In late winter/early spring, cut out any dead, diseased, or damaged stems to the base of the plant and cut two or three of the oldest flowering stems back.

If your lacecap shrub is older and doesn’t flower much, revitalize it by trimming off a third of the stems at ground level. The best time to prune most hydrangeas is in late winter or spring, with the exception of climbing hydrangeas, which are pruned in summer after they have bloomed.