Asked by: Michael Roeschen
home and garden landscaping

Does spirea stay green in winter?

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Some of the 80 spirea species lose their leaves in winter, some keep them; but, regular as clockwork, all offer profuse flowers in spring or summer in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 though 9. It works well as a foundation plant or in a hedge.


In respect to this, do you cut back spirea in winter?

Wait until late winter or early spring to cut back the spireas. Though spirea species that bloom on the previous year's growth are normally pruned in summer after the flowering period, all spireas should be rejuvenated in late winter to early spring.

do spirea bushes lose their leaves? As deciduous shrubs, spirea lose their leaves every year in the fall. Other varieties of spirea have fall color, though it is not always consistent. Spring flowers, however, are much more reliable. Japanese, bridal veil and birchleaf spirea all flower in the spring or summer.

Also Know, how do I prepare spirea for winter?

Spread a 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the base of spirea shrubs before winter weather arrives. Compost or wood chips will stabilize the ground temperature, keep down weeds and amend the soil over time. Keep the mulch 4 to 6 inches from the stems of the plant.

When should I trim spirea bushes?

Lightly trimming you spirea after blooming will extend this shrub's season of interest. The second pruning should occur in late fall or early spring. This pruning will usually be a more drastic trim and you will remove more plant material from the plant than during the spring/summer prune previously discussed.

Related Question Answers

Shuwei Restivo

Professional

Can I cut my spirea to the ground?

Spirea that's not pruned or pruned to the ground each spring has a casual, loose habit. Early in spring, before leaf buds start to swell, cut all of the stems down so they're 4 to 6 in. You can use pruning shears and cut one at a time or hedge clippers and simply cut them all off at once — it won't make a difference.

Zsuzsa Hilprecht

Professional

How far back can you prune spirea?

Fall Prune
Cut back each stem to within 8 to 12 inches of the ground. In spring, a severely pruned spirea grows new stems that are all capable of flowering.

Yossef Jebelev

Explainer

Should I deadhead spirea?

Deadheading is the process of cutting off flowers that have faded. This process isn't a requirement for the spirea, but it can be very beneficial. Deadheading will prevent the production of seeds in the fall and can save you a lot of cleanup work.

Nelso Penalba

Explainer

How do you prune hydrangeas in the fall?

Cut these stems close to the ground. Remember buds for blooms are produced on old wood and the more old wood you remove the less floral display in the spring and summer. To rejuvenate the hydrangea, remove up to 1/3 of the older living stems down to the ground each summer. This will revitalize the plant.

Yisel Campia

Explainer

When should hydrangeas be cut back?

In late winter or early spring, these shrubs can be cut all the way back to the ground. Smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger blooms if pruned hard like this each year, but many gardeners opt for smaller blooms on sturdier stems. Leave a framework of old growth.

Apostolos Antal

Pundit

Does spirea need full sun?

The spirea shrub does best when planted in full sun or light shade. Planting the shrub in full shade results in stunted growth, and a reduction in the number and size of blooms. Position your spirea in an area with well-drained soil, as they do not like wet feet.

Lidija Buehr

Pundit

Is it OK to trim bushes in the fall?

Cut back shrubs grown primarily for their foliage, such as barberry and burning bush, almost anytime except in late autumn. New growth that starts after late-season pruning won't harden off properly before winter. If you want to do major pruning, it's best to cut the shrub back when it is dormant in winter.

Taras Holzakov

Pundit

Do you cut down spirea in the fall?

You can also shape the shrub at this time. More drastically cutting back spirea should occur in the fall or in late winter to early spring. The two main trimming periods, in early spring and after blooming, are most important to do each year, but you can also trim your spirea as needed throughout any season.

Hassnae Henig

Pundit

How do you take care of a spirea plant?

Growing Tips
Keep young plants well watered. Once established, spireas are drought tolerant. Add a layer of wood chips or bark mulch in spring to maintain soil moisture and prevent weed growth. Add a layer of compost and an organic plant food in spring to promote new growth.

Rolanda Gundamaraju

Pundit

Should you cut back butterfly bushes in the fall?

When to Prune a Butterfly Bush
Generally, most butterfly bush pruning should take place during the winter months, in warmer climates, while the plant is dormant. However, the butterfly bush can also be pruned in the spring with no ill effects. Just make sure you wait until the threat of frost has passed.

Jeanene Holtkamper

Teacher

What do you do with hostas in the fall?

Cut back the rest of the greenery on hostas after it has died back in fall – October or early November in coastal areas and up to a month earlier inland. Although it would not hurt the plant to leave withered foliage on the plant, the foliage gives slugs, weevils and assorted rodents a handy shelter until spring.

Shayna Ruitter

Teacher

How do you trim a rose of Sharon tree?

The rose of Sharon shrub flowers on growth from the current year, allowing optimum opportunities for when to prune rose of Sharon. Pruning rose of Sharon shrub may be done in late fall or winter after leaves drop or in early spring before buds form.

Yuliyana Walters

Teacher

How do you propagate spirea?

Cut 4 to 6 inches from the tip of a stem. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the stem, and dip the cut end in powdered rooting hormone. Plant the stem in a container filled with moist potting mixture.

Elisio Basedahl

Reviewer

How do you prune a spirea Snowmound?

It needs regular watering but only occasional pruning as its natural form is graceful and attractive.
  1. Prune your spirea after the flowers fade, the third growing season after planting.
  2. Open the center of the shrub by removing the three thickest stems at ground level.
  3. Trim off any growth that looks unwieldy.

Leira Yuschenko

Reviewer

How do you prune a bridal wreath spirea?

Prune for More Blooms
Bridal wreath spirea blooms in the spring from buds that were set on the growth from the year before. Late summer or fall pruning removes the growth which then reduces the number of buds on the shrub. For a full blooming season, the shrub needs pruned as soon as the flowers fade.

Mariora Briones

Reviewer

What can I plant next to spirea?

Choosing the Best Companion Plants for Your Spirea
  1. Spirea is one of the most popular plants used in landscape designs and gardens.
  2. Creepig juniper- Spireas which are light in color, like pink or yellow look best when placed amongst dark foliage companion plants like creepig juniper.
  3. Loropetalum- A good companion plant for limemound spirea is loropetalum raspberry.

Ullah Terhalle

Supporter

Are you supposed to cut back lavender?

The best time to prune lavender is after flowering is complete, but this plant is forgiving. All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. This means that pruning can be done in early- or mid-spring without sacrificing the current year's flowering.

Liberia Michaely

Supporter

Why is my spirea dying?

Too much water can cause leaves to turn yellow or entire stems to die, which may give you a false signal your plant needs more water. If you dig gently down to the root zone, you may discover your spirea's need for better drainage, rather than more water.

Jonadab Kolenowsk

Supporter

Can you transplant spirea?

Spirea shrubs can grow as tall as 10 feet and as wide as 20. Moving a spirea shrub should be done as quickly as possible so the plant doesn't dry out. It may help to wrap the root ball in burlap to keep it moist and to stop the soil from falling away. Plant it in a hole prepared just like for container transplanting.