When Should Lacecap Hydrangeas Be Pruned?

Lacecap hydrangeas, known for their blue or pink flowers, are best pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This timing allows for the removal of dead or damaged stems. If your hydrangea blooms on “old” wood, it is not recommended to prune them in the fall to ensure next year’s flowers are not sacrificed.

Lacecap hydrangeas prefer locations with morning sun and afternoon shade, consistent moist soil, and vigilant watering. They can tolerate light shaping or thinning once plants show new growth in early spring. For those that only bloom on old wood, wait until after plants have finished flowering. Rebloomers should avoid pruning altogether.

Most pruning is carried out in late winter or early spring, but climbing hydrangeas are pruned after flowering in summer. Prune your plant in June or July before it begins flowering. Deadheading is the process of removing dead blossoms and cutting the stems back to the second pair of buds below. Lacecap hydrangeas are hardier than mopheads and can be pruned in autumn or spring. Deadhead all old flowerheads, cut back to the second pair of buds below, and remove dead, diseased, or damaged stems to the base of the plant. Both mophead and lacecap hydrangeas are considered bigleaf or macrophylla hydrangeas, so pruning is usually not needed for the plant’s health.