\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The plant may also spill over into areas occupied by neighboring plants, taking over their space and starting to crowd them out. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Low-growing flowers spirea, plants that reach heights of only . If you have only a few to cut, scissors or snips are fine. Last Updated: April 28, 2022 Many of the newer cultivars have luminous, color-changing leaves that emerge in shades of chartreuse, copper, gold, orange, and scarlet then morph into various hues of green. Double Play Blue Kazoo Buy now from Proven WinnersSpiraea media. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Regular, scheduled trimming promotes good health and new growth. Dig down around the stems to get as much of the root out as possible. This exquisite little spirea may have the most colorful foliage around, emerging candy-apple red in the spring and maturing to yellow and pumpkin orange as the season progresses. Remove any unwanted suckers by cutting stems below the soil line. Double Play Doozie Buy now from Proven WinnersSpiraea japonica. A few simple steps are all you need to get a perfect result every time: Step 1: Dig a hole 1-2 inches deeper than the pot, and twice the width. For more information on pruning spirea shrubs, like how to remove suckers, read on! Place the plant in the hole and backfill with the excavated soil. Water both plants well after the move is complete. And to learn more about growing and caring for spirea, have a read of these guides next: Ask the Experts, LLC. As the plant begins to bush out with multiple stems, you can prune up to half of each stem. When To Prune Spirea? Any plant that blooms in the . Use leverage. But if your shrubs need to be shaped or resized, this is the time to crop them as outlined above. When the flower heads start to turn brown like you see below, just trim those off to encourage reblooming. Replant the root sections and youll have new, vigorous growth when the plant re-emerges in the spring. And many of the popular cultivars in the Spiraea genus also benefit from a second trim after flowering to encourage a light rebloom and pretty new foliage, and to check rambunctious growth. I will be planting another two of the same Shrub but in the correct places, probably new plants as I do not know if the ones being removed will be able to be transplanted, unfortunately. Then, with a shovel, dig around until you expose the roots. Petioles are decurrent along the stems. Method A spirea bush can be split in two ways. Thanks! The following provides some tips to help you remove spirea from your yard. Use soil to help keep it up. Its important to prune spirea shrubs, as this helps maintain their shape, prevent diseases, and encourage a second flowering. Mature plants that havent been maintained often develop an abundance of top growth, sparse flowers, and a tangle of dead and/or bare branches below the canopy. Here is more about what we do. While plants are still dormant, this is the time to be fairly aggressive, removing dead or damaged branches and reshaping shrubs. Spireas dont like wet feet, so avoid oversaturating the soil. For a professionally rounded trim, use this landscapers trick: Tie a rope around the shrubs middle, lightly pulling the branches together. Cutting it way back will stimulate new growth in tighter clusters so that you can get a more rounded, compact shrub shape. They all have many tightly clustered flowers with five sepals and five petals. More drastically cutting back spirea should occur in the fall or in late winter to early spring. P Pruning. Finely toothed foliage comes in shades of green, chartreuse, gold, blue, with some varieties putting on a showy fall display. I have two growing in pots right now. Once you've removed most of the branches, you can then cut the base of the shrub as low to the ground as you can get. Amend the soil with compost as needed. Cut straight across the shrubs top above the rope. Without trimming these shrubs tend to look woody with dead branches and overgrown. How to plant: Follow these steps and space 2-15 feet apart, depending on the variety. Dividing them at the root is one way to revive them and remove old growth. If they are too well fixed for you to pull them up, try a little leverage. Here are some ideas: Many plants will complement spirea in the landscape. The solution is simple: trimming spirea plants keeps them looking healthy and attractive year after year. Also try S. japonica 'Goldmound', which has similar color-shifting foliage that emerges bright golden yellow in the spring and transitions to chartreuse in the summer and an attractive orange-red in the fall. Once you start letting pieces lie outside the bag your efforts at keeping the yard tidy will end and you will waste more time at the end of the day picking up the pieces. Plants will produce new growth in spring and return to full size in just a couple of years. Use as a foundation planting, hedging or in a mixed border. The best way is to locate a section of the plant on the outer edge that consists of young, vigorous shoots. I hope you are all well. Plan on pruning a spirea bush at least twice a year. Repeat the process to deadhead the spirea plant through the remainder of the growing season. This hardy deciduous shrub has captivating three-season interest, with a graceful habit, attractive foliage and flowers that bloom over a long time. Attracts bees and butterflies; deer resistant. I'll wait another week or two and trim. If you can trace any horizontal roots, rip them out of the ground. If youre only familiar with the traditional bridal wreath spirea, a large shrub that can become ungainly if not pruned, youll love the versatility and carefree nature of the newer spirea cultivars showcased here. Wedding Cake Buy now from Proven WinnersSpiraea nipponica. Remove a ring of mature canes from around the outer edge of the base, cutting at soil level. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The Double Play series is typically ignored by deer and even rabbits. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. A great non-invasive choice for eastern U.S. Glow Girl ('Tor Gold') Buy now from Proven WinnersSpiraea betulifolia. 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