VIEWERS QUESTION: Kristen Hoberg: Hello all, I am new to gardening and we have some Japanese meadowsweet (spirea) in our front yard. It was overgrown so I though “why not cut it back” and did – now I am worried I have made an error – as many things I read after the face say not to cut back really till early spring.
THE ANSWER
Your spirea will be just fine. There is no true wrong time for pruning spireas. They are known for their hardiness and forgiving nature. With over 10 years of experience in the field, I have successfully pruned spireas at various times throughout the year, even in the middle of winter. Each time, they have rebounded and appeared healthier than before. Do note, by performing a hard prune, you can stimulate vigorous growth, resulting in potentially large regrowth. It is crucial to monitor the spirea to prevent it from overpowering other plants or shrubs in the area.
One important recommendation I have is to thoroughly clean out all dead wood after pruning. Dead wood is typically abundant and can be easily removed. This practice promotes better air circulation in the soil and opens up the shrub for improved airflow. While this step may be time-consuming, especially for older shrubs, it is essential for maintaining a healthy and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
If you want two sets of blooms, it’s best to trim your spirea(s) twice a year. This way, you’ll get double the flowers! Trim them once in early spring and then again after they bloom. The only spirea you should NOT prune in the spring is the bridal wreath (snowmound) spirea. This type grows on old wood, which means it sets its buds for next year’s blooms on the current year’s growth. So, if you trim it back, you’ll be cutting off this year’s flowers.
WHAT IS HARD PRUNING?
For those of you who are not familiar with hard pruning I thought I’d add this to my answer. Hard pruning is a technique used when you want to refresh or rejuvenate a shrub. It’s when you cut the shrub back to the ground, usually between 6-12 above the soil. I have cut spireas back as low as 2 inches above the soil and it came back no different than if I was to do it 6-12 inches above the soil.
