The lacecap hydrangea is a type of shrub that is known for its large clusters of flowers. These flowers are usually blue and white, but can also be pink or red. Pruning the lacecap hydrangea is as simple as it is with other types of hydrangeas.
How To Prune Lacecap Hydrangea
Here is the complete process explained in detail on how to prune lacecap hydrangea:
Step 1:
1. Trim off the dead flower heads so they don’t attract pests and disease.
Step 2:
2. Cut out any damaged or diseased stems.
Step 3:
3. Prune back any stems that have grown too tall for their location in the garden.
Step 4:
4. Remove any suckers or sprouts growing from the base of the plant, as these will compete with the main stem for nutrients and water, slowing growth on your plant.
Step 5:
5. Prune out any branches that rub against each other or other plants in your garden, as this can damage them and create an entry point for disease to enter your plant’s system.
Tips for How To Prune Lacecap Hydrangea
Here are 5 things to take care of with respect to how to prune lacecap hydrangea:
1. The best time to prune lacecap hydrangea is in late winter or early spring.
2. Pruning lacecap hydrangea will help keep the shrub healthy and prevent it from getting too large for its location.
(Note: It is easier to control the size of your shrub by pruning it when it is young than once it has gotten too big.)
3. Cut back all stems that have flowered so that only two or three buds remain on each stem. This will encourage branching and help make your plant fuller and bushier!
You can also try pruning off some stems at different heights so that you end up with a more interesting shape for your shrub!
4. Prune stems that are very tall, thin, or spindly in order to help them grow thicker and stronger.
5. You should cut back any stems that are broken, diseased, dead, or damaged in any way (such as by animals). These should be removed entirely because they can cause problems for the rest of the plant if left alone!
Interesting Facts About Hydrangea
Here are 5 things you should know about hydrangea:
1. Hydrangeas are not from Hawaii.
Hydrangea macrophylla is native to Japan, China and Korea, although it has been introduced in North America, Europe and Australia. The plant was named for its resemblance to a hydrangea flower (Hydrangea arborescens), which is native to the United States.
2. Hydrangeas are easy to grow.
They prefer moist soil but can tolerate drought conditions. They also need full sun or partial shade, according to the University of Minnesota Extension Service. It’s best to plant them in spring so they can settle in before winter sets in.
3. There are more than 100 species of hydrangea worldwide, including some varieties that are deciduous and others that are evergreen. The flowers come in a variety of colors, including blue-purple, white, pink and red-violet.
Some even have double flowers or petals with contrasting colors on each side, such as pink with yellow petals on one side and white petals with pink on the other side (called “piecrust” hydrangeas). The leaves also vary from green to blue-green or gray-green depending on the species or cultivar (cultivated variety).
Some have serrated edges while others have smooth edges; some leaves turn shades of red in fall while others stay green all year long; some varieties have lacy leaves while others have large leaves with ruffled edges; some varieties even have variegated leaves with splotches of color on them!
FAQs
As a general rule, lacecap hydrangeas should be pruned in late winter or early spring before the buds begin to swell. The most common mistake is pruning too early in the season. If you prune while the plant is still dormant, it can produce new growth that will not have time to harden off before summer arrives. This new growth will be more susceptible to damage from heat and sun and may die.
How do I know when to prune?
You can usually tell if a lacecap hydrangea needs to be pruned by looking at the overall shape of the plant. If it is growing into an odd shape or has become leggy (too tall and thin), then it’s probably time for some serious shaping!
Yes, you can hard prune a lacecap hydrangea. In fact, it is recommended that you prune your lacecap hydrangea at least once a year in early spring. This will keep the plant healthy and vigorous. If you have not done so already, we recommend that you read our article on how to prune a lacecap hydrangea.
How do I propagate a lacecap hydrangea?
Lacecap hydrangeas are easy to propagate from cuttings or by layering and division. You can take cuttings from new growth in the spring or summer (see our article on how to take cuttings for more information).
The easiest way to propagate is by layering; this involves bending over stems and securing them to the ground with wire or string. Once they root, they can be removed and potted up (see our article on how to layer plants). Division is also an easy method of propagation but requires more work than layering (see our article on dividing plants).
Lacecap hydrangeas are pruned to the ground after flowering in late summer. This is called deadheading. Deadheading is not necessary, but it will help keep your lacecap hydrangea looking tidy and prevent the plant from seeding itself in unwanted areas.
Deadheading also stimulates new growth, which can be cut back before it flowers to encourage a second flush of blooms.
The species of lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) that is most commonly used as a flowering shrub in the landscape is the smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens), which blooms on new wood only.
The common lacecap hydrangea (H. paniculata ) and the oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia) bloom on both old and new wood, although they may have more flowers on new wood. If you want to know whether your lacecap hydrangea is one of these two species, look at the leaflet structure: Oakleaf hydrangeas have three leaflets per leaf; common lacecaps have five or seven leaflets per leaflet.
How do I prune my lacecap hydrangeas to get them to flower?
Lacecap hydrangeas bloom best when they are pruned in late winter or early spring before they begin to grow again in spring. Pruning after they begin to grow will result in fewer flowers because it stimulates growth of the current season’s growth rather than next year’s flowers.
Pruning can be done by hand using loppers or pruners, but it’s easier with a power hedge trimmer equipped with a long-reach attachment for reaching into tight spaces between plants and under low branches where you cannot reach by hand. To encourage branching and flowering, cut back each branch by half its length;