Sounds like the weight and water on the weak stems produced by cutting it to the ground every year. There is nothing wrong with rejuvenating a spindly spirea, but there isn't any reason to do it yearly. What cultivar is it?

Goldflame or Goldmound I believe. It has yellow leaves. When I had Anthony Waterer I had the same problem even when I didn't trim them to the ground, that's why I ripped them out. It has been a very rainy few weeks though, but my Little Princess is just perfect.

Try low wire fences surrounding the shrub to hold the plant off the ground?

I might give it a year without pruning to compare how it does.

I am thinking of pulling it out, but I suppose I could give it one more year and adjust the pruning. I have a daylily that is being crowded out by the spirea on one side and an aggressive tall phlox on the other so the idea of just pulling out the spirea was tempting. I haven't always pruned to the ground with this one, but perhaps have done too many years in a row now.
Thanks for the input guys. What is your pruning routine like with your spireas?

I don't have this particular kind, but the ones I do have, I prune to 8" or so in spring if either there is an accumulated congestion of dead twiggy material or there is winter damage since it is under the spot where snow gets raked off the roof. Most years it doesn't get pruned. I can't remember which specific cultivar I have (too long in the garden) but it's S. japonica and is 3 1/2'-4' and has pink flowers starting about now. I also have 'Ogon' which is more recent so hasn't needed much pruning thus far.

do you fert them?? ... if so.. stop ... that could lead to excessive fast growth.. that cant hold itself up ..

ken

No, I don't fertilize them, but see how that could become an issue. Perhaps it's all the rain at the wrong time this year and too many springs of hard pruning. Live and learn.

I just rescued a 'Gold Mound' several weeks ago out of the lowes bargain bin. It looked dead, but it was only $1. Here it is now.

I would give it some time. Unless they require rejuvenation, all they really need is a tip pruning in spring.