Pruning Spirea Tips For Cutting Back Spirea Shrubs

You should actually prune your spirea more than once a year, at least twice. Give it a good trim after it flowers in the spring by cutting back the tips of the stems to the top leaf bud. This removes the dead blossoms and also may trigger a second blooming and new leaf growth. You can also shape the shrub at this time.

Can I cut my spirea to the ground?

The spirea species (Spiraea spp.) ... To control the spirea's size and keep it blooming year after year, you should prune it back after blooming or when it's dormant in winter. If it's severely overgrown, cut it to the ground to rejuvenate the shrub.

What month do you cut back shrubs?

The best time to rejuvenate large, overgrown shrubs is late winter or early spring (March or early April). Heavy pruning in late winter or early spring will reduce or eliminate the flower display for 2 or 3 years. However, rejuvenation pruning will restore the health of the shrubs.

How do you prune an overgrown bridal wreath spirea?

Using bypass loppers or a small pruning saw, cut each branch as close to the ground or base of the plant as possible. As you remove each branch, step back and look at the shrub. Then remove the next branch. Repeat until you've cut out 1/3 of the oldest growth.

How do you take care of spirea bushes?

Keep newly planted spireas well-watered until they become established. Mature spireas are drought tolerant and only need watering when the soil becomes dry. Spireas don't like wet feet, so avoid oversaturating the soil.

When should I cut back spirea bushes?

The two main trimming periods, in early spring and after blooming, are most important to do each year, but you can also trim your spirea as needed throughout any season. This is a shrub that responds well to trimming, so prune and shape as needed.

Does spirea bloom on old wood?

If your spirea bloom in the spring, They are likely Spiraea prunifolia or Spiraea x vanhouttei and they bloom on "old wood" or the previous year's growth. These should be cut back after blooming in 2016.

What month is considered late winter?

When is Late Winter? Late winter is 4 to 6 weeks before spring thaw begins. This could be any time in January to May, depending on your climate.

Is it too late to trim bushes?

Winter is usually the best time.

Dormant pruning is usually done in late winter, six to 10 weeks before the average last frost in your area. You can prune shrubs at any time of year if it's necessary—for example, to remove broken branches or dead or diseased wood, or to remove growth that is obstructing a walkway.

What perennials should not be cut back in the fall?

Don't cut back marginally hardy perennials like garden mums (Chrysanthemum spp.), anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria), and Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum).

How do you rejuvenate a wedding spirea wreath?

With time, bridal wreath tends to become sparse and leggy. To rejuvenate a spirea, you can cut it almost to the ground, and it will grow back in a healthier state. Remember to clean your pruning shears with household disinfectant at full strength to avoid spreading bacteria, viruses or fungi.

Do you cut back weigela in the fall?

Although summer pruning is best for weigelas because of their standard bloom time, fall pruning in November isn't going to kill your weigela, especially if you live in a mild climate. You won't get a flush of new blooms in spring and summer because a fall pruning will remove all buds.

Can you cut back bridal wreath?

They bloom in the spring from flower buds that formed on the branches the previous summer. Therefore, pruning in late summer, fall or winter will remove flower buds effecting the spring bloom. ... After all the flowers have faded in spring, you can prune to shape your Bridal Wreath Spirea or to reduce it's size.

Do you deadhead spirea bushes?

Deadheading: This is merely the practice of clipping off old flowers to stimulate the growth of new foliage and blossoms. ... Pink flowering spirea should also be deadheaded. You can cut off old flowers using a pruners, hedge shears or an electric shearing tool.

Is spirea annual or perennial?

Spireas are small to medium sized deciduous shrubs that produce cascades of flowers in spring and summer. Among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow, spireas are often used in foundation plantings, as hedges, and in perennial gardens. Most spireas bloom in late spring to midsummer.

Does spirea bloom all summer?

Many are low, wide shrubs growing to 3 to 4 feet in height with graceful branchings. They bloom throughout the summer from June into August. Some varieties to look for include the Japanese spirea bumalda cultivars.

How far can you cut back spirea?

Trim back overgrown spireas or those that produced sparse foliage on the lower stems severely in fall after the foliage begins to fall off, to keep the shrubs shaped and compact. Cut back each stem to within 8 to 12 inches of the ground.

How tall does spirea get?

Plant sizes vary by species and cultivar, and they range from 1½ to 8 feet tall. There are many species of spireas (greater than 80), but only the most commonly encountered species and cultivars are included here.

Why are my spirea dying?

Poor Water Management. Too much or too little water can stress plants. Although spirea tolerates dry sites, it grows best in consistently moist soil that drains well. ... Too much water can cause leaves to turn yellow or entire stems to die, which may give you a false signal your plant needs more water.

How long do spirea bushes bloom?

They can range in height as low as 18 inches or as tall as 48 inches. For a shrub, they are considered long blooming, and their flowers easily tolerate the heat so their bloom time isn't rushed as a result of a heatwave. You can plan on them blooming a good five weeks or so.

What can I plant next to spirea?

They look especially good paired with bigleaf hydrangeas. Or set them near clumps of hostas that will take some sun. Since spirea blossoms are mainly flat clusters, contrast the flower shapes you plant nearby. Narrow purple spikes of salvia or upright plumes of astilbe add nice variety.

What can I plant with spirea bushes?

Loropetalum- A good companion plant for limemound spirea is loropetalum raspberry. You can even plant any summer spirea, mostly the pink ones with loropetalum. Aster lateriflorus- Another wonderful companion for light colured spireas is the Aster lateriflorus or 'Prince'.