Cut back? Replace?

4 years ago

I believe this forum helped me identify these as spirea about 5 years ago. At that time they were grossly overgrown and I was advised to cut them back. I do not recall if I was advised to cut them back and the spring or the fall nor can I find my old post.
Anyway I did so andthey came back great until this year. They just didn't look right... this year see pictures. I don't know if they're dying or need to be cut back or should just be replaced. Any suggestions... thank you.

Featured Answer

cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)

4 years ago

To clarify- you pruned them once five years ago and haven't done it since?

I prune mine back hard every spring- they can go two years but it makes a nasty job even tougher, so I try to get to it every spring or late winter.

I cut them back hard- first so they don't over grow their space (that is being revamped next year) but also because it increases my blooming tremendously. I prune early, scatter some compost, mulch, then they're good for another year.

And when I say I prune them back hard, I mean like this- and you'd be surprised just how quickly they fill out with all manner of fresh, new foliage.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
cut it to 6 or 8 inches ... and see what happens in spring.. if it leafs out.. you are all set..

if not.. replace it then ...

these are basically 'run it over with the truck shrubs' ... treat them as such.. and dont worry about it ...

btw... it usually helps to give us a big city name ... how fast it takes to return to size might differ depending on length of growing season...

ken
Related Professionals
Orlando Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Gary Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Detroit Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Cleveland Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rutland Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Clarksdale Landscape Contractors · Jackson Landscape Contractors · Martinsburg Landscape Contractors · Buffalo Landscape Contractors · Lancaster Landscape Contractors · Athens Home Builders · Parkersburg Home Builders · Plymouth Home Builders · Newark Home Builders · Gillette Home Builders
Bob F
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks for the replies. Do I cut them back now in November or wait till the spring. I'm in eastern PA
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
4 years ago
I would wait until spring if you can- IMO it's a bit late to be pruning shrubs.

I doubt it would hurt them though if you really want to get at it.
Bob F
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you for the picture I think that is what I did last time. Should I do it now we're approaching November or wait until the spring. I live in eastern Pennsylvania it's just starting to get cold
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
4 years ago
Normally advice is always to wait until late winter, very early spring to prune shrubs.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years ago
Unless, of course, they’re spring bloomers, in which case prune immediately after flowering.
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Right Floral, Thanks for catching that. Of course, advice is to prune after flowering, and Spirea which is the topic here, is an early bloomer. but since they would have missed their opportunity this year to prune after flowering, the best opportunity would be early spring. So, if you cut back the spirea, 6 inches from the ground in late winter/early spring, will you still get full bloom the same season? Wouldn't some shrubs fail to bloom with such a severe hair cut?

For instance, my Clethra 'Sherry Sue' was getting gangly and out of shape and fewer blooms. It blooms in late September. I cut it all the way to the ground last spring and it grew back over my head in one season, looks great. Nice shape, healthy but no bloom this year. It did produce one flower bloom on it that never opened. I expect next year I'll get full bloom.

Would it be correct to say, the reason for timing of pruning is because pruning stimulates new growth. You want new growth during the growing season, not right before the plant is about to go dormant, when it is putting energy toward preparing for that?
Bob F
Original Author
4 years ago
This was about the best I could do....?