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Pruning spring flowering spirea

cvhcvh Posts: 18
My spirea has finished flowering but needs a good pruning as it’s been sadly neglected.  How hard can it be pruned and should it be done now.  

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They'll usually take any amount of abuse  :)
    Tough plants, and almost impossible to kill. I find it's better to take individual stems/branches out, or prune one or two, rather than just shearing the whole thing into a 'pudding'.
    It keeps a more natural shape that way, but if it's really overgrown, you can certainly take it right back to about a foot or 18 inches, and it will come back. A wee general feed, and a good watering if needed  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    which variety is it? 
    If it's snowmound, cut back the branches which have flowered, but leave unflowered brances, as they'll flower next spring. 
    Can you supply a photo?
    Devon.
  • cvhcvh Posts: 18
    Thanks Fairygirl and Hostafan for your response.  Pleased to hear spiraea snowbound can be pruned hard as it’s got very overgrown and leggy.  I think I’d rather cut it back to a foot or 18” in an endeavour to improve the shape.  I realise I may forfeit flowering next spring but... so be it.  Thanks again.  
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