When should I prune my spirea? - Ask Extension
My pink spirea are largely dead with some minimal superficial growth. They have been pruned yearly for eleven years. Can I hard prune them back to z...
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When should I prune my spirea? #208122
Asked August 21, 2014, 3:53 PM EDT
My pink spirea are largely dead with some minimal superficial growth. They have been pruned yearly for eleven years. Can I hard prune them back to zero and allow them to recover next year? If so, when is the best time to do this? Can they be hard pruned now?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi,
Spireas should be pruned at least once a year to maintain shape. They also bloom on new wood. A little shearing after they bloom will encourage more new blossoms. You may want to trim them back severely within a foot or so of the ground. Give your shrubs TLC with sufficient watering and a small amount of fertilizer. Hopefully new stems will be encouraged. Give this a try this early spring and see what happens over the season. If new growth is too sparse and they don't seem to be recovering by the end of the year, pull them out next spring and replant.
Can they be hard trimmed now to match those already hard trimmed ~ see attached photo?
Yes, but I think it wise to wait until after the growing season (late fall).
