Consider dividing your spirea. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. % of people told us that this article helped them. After the blooms have faded, you can prune the spirea to a more manageable size. Replant the root sections and you’ll have new, vigorous growth when the plant re-emerges in the spring. Try to tear off the sucker, rather than cutting it away. Learn more... Spirea shrubs are beautiful flowering bushes that can brighten up any yard. You can also use a commercial aphid spray. They have survived two zone 6 winters, sitting right out on the patio with no protection. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Dig down around the stems to get as much of the root out as possible. How do I prune my old spiera shrubs? Spiraea are beautiful flowering shrubs. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. I have two growing in pots right now. Native to the north temperate zone, many spirea species are commonly cultivated for their pleasing growth habit and attractive flower clusters. Dig around to find the roots and cut them back. Place the plant in the hole and backfill with the excavated soil. Spring bloomers can be pruned right after the flowers are gone. What if I have no idea what kind of spirea I have? Bushes need one application of slow-release granular fertilizer in spring. In this case, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Approved. Learn how to manage stress like a therapist. You should also add around two inches of compost, leaf mold or well-rotted manure around your spirea to act as a mulch. Remove the sucker by getting as close as possible to the base of the root. Removing any diseased or damaged branches and any dead growth. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. This removes the dead blossoms and also may trigger a second blooming and new leaf growth. With young ones, just maintain the shape as you want it, but with an older shrub, you need to take out 2 or 3 of the oldest branches to the ground to encourage it to grow new ones that will produce more flowers. How old the shrub is makes a difference, too. Members of the genus Spiraea are hardy deciduous Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. This stimulates development of strong new … After the blooms have faded, you can prune the spirea to a more manageable size. And ones that add pretty flowers, luminous foliage, and multi-season color give even greater value – like spirea. Bushes need the correct care to grow healthy. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. "I have recently found several spirea branches rotten at the base, and after removing them, I wondered what to do, "The article was SO helpful. The spring pruning should be a set of strategic cuts made to reduce the size of the plant. In early spring, before the leaf buds start to swell, cut all of the stems down so they’re 4 to 6 in. Last Updated: October 30, 2019 Spirea, (genus Spiraea), genus of nearly 100 species of flowering shrubs in the rose family (Rosaceae). Spiraea × arguta 'Bridal Wreath' is a popular variety with, as the name suggested, lovely white flowers carried on arching branches growing up to 1.5-2.5m. This article was really so helpful with so much useful information to guide me. Apr 14, 2019 - Explore Ashley's board "Garden: Spirea", followed by 250 people on Pinterest. Do I wait and note the month and date they bloom this year and go from there? Spring bloomers produce flowers on the previous season’s wood. Mix 5 tablespoons of insecticidal soap into 1 gallon of water, pour it into a sprayer and spray the shrub thoroughly. You also check of damaged or dead leaves and stems and cut them off. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. This type of pruning is when you cut your spirea to the soil at the end of winter and … BrightView Horticulturist Scott Kopitskie explains how to properly prune a spirea to increase the plant's bloom and control its size. Removing suckers and prevent the plant spreading via suckering. Newly planted shrubs won’t need pruning as much; you may just give them a bit of a trim to reshape them in their first year. It’s important to prune spirea shrubs, as this helps maintain their shape, prevent diseases, and encourage a second flowering. Scrape away some soil around the root if necessary. 3. I'll wait another week or two and trim. Save Beloved by greenhorn and green thumb gardeners alike, their multi-season beauty, easy care, and fast growth make it one of the most popular of flowering shrubs. Spirea Planting Information. You might be able to loosen the roots by heaving the stems backward and forward. Prune these cracked and brown branches ready for fresh, new growth in the spring. You might be able to repair cracked and split stems, depending upon how serious the damage is. In the first year remove dead, damaged, diseased, crossing and rubbing shoots down to ground level, aiming to remove up to half the shrub. Use at least 2 inches of mulch around the base of the bush to help retain moisture. The plants are valued for their attractive white, pink or red flowers, which bloom in spring and summer, depending on the variety. Take especial care when pruning taller varieties: the combination of sharp blades and ladders can be risky. Some of the plants described in this chapter that take such treatment are glossy abelia (Abelia grandiflora), barberry (Berberis), forsythia, oleander (Nerium oleander), mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius), cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa), and spiraea. How to plant: Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the container and just as deep. Best of all, it was VERY concise and clear. This article has been viewed 50,722 times. Spirea that’s not pruned or pruned to the ground each spring has a casual, loose habit. Coat the tops and bottoms of the leaves as well as the stems. 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