These shrubs are a showpiece in themselves for nothing but the floral displays they create, which are made even more appealing thanks to their large size. Registered Company Address: Eventus House, Sunderland Road, Market Deeping, Peterborough, PE6 8FD. If you want to prune your Spiraea once a year to keep it within a certain size then we recommend pruning straight after flowering, which, in the UK, is usually around June for most varieties. You will have a great-looking shrub in no time. Scientific Name Spiraea douglasii Hook. Stake trees, taller shrubs and roses to prevent root disturbance. Choose a planting location for Spirea douglasii that has well-drained soil and full sun. Let's take a closer look at what makes these shrubs so great! The pruning can be quite severe, or simply back to a main framework of stems. Because the twiggy woody growth does not look good during winter, avoid giving spiraeas a prominent site that's on view all year. Pruning as early in spring as possible will give the maximum growing period for the young shoots. Prune the bush throughout the year as needed. SPDO. Remove suckers promptly to prevent plants from spreading. 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In the spring, after the first blooms are spent, cut the dead flowers back by trimming spireas stem tips back to the topmost leaf on each stem. Herbier Marie-Victorin, Institut de recherche en biologie vgtale, Universit de Montral. The same applies to the others in this group of late flowering Spiraeas - Spiraea x douglasii and Spiraea canescens. Sharpen your tools to ensure a quick, clean cut. The blossoms are so profuse that they literally smother the plant. The cuts should be within 1-2cm of a bud or leaf, if possible. Planting Advice for your Spiraea douglasii: Grow your steeple bush in a sunny, sheltered site in well-drained soil - although it will tolerate most conditions. In early to mid-spring cut back the previous year's flowering stems to within one or two buds of the older woody framework. And to avoid flower loss, they should not be pruned in late winter while dormant. Other varieties of spirea, such as Japanese spirea, respond better to pruning in the late winter months. Should any hardy plant fail to thrive thereafter, we'll replace free of charge - you just pay the P&P. If youre planting into pots, place some old rocks, stones or gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainage and ballast. The branch will root where it touches the ground and can be severed from the parent plant once it is well rooted. Fall is the time for the most severe pruning of spirea. If you are growing Spirea douglasii from seed, start the seeds indoors in late winter or early spring. of a leaf or bud. We aim to enrich everyones life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Flowers are borne in profusion and in heads or clusters made up of many tiny blooms, which are white, pink or purple in colour. tall. H x S: 2m x 1.5m, Subscribe today. Subscribe today. Once established, spiraea needs little attention apart from pruning. It is a popular landscaping plant in many parts of North America. If you live in an area with limited sunlight, you may find that your plant grows more slowly or doesn't produce as many flowers. Also remove any thin, weak or dead growth. Razorsharp Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers, Black and Decker Alligator Lopper Cordless, Foscomax Chainsaw, 4 Inch 24V Electric Chainsaw, Spiraeas - late spring and summer flowering. Keep plants well-watered while they establish, especially if planted up in a pot. Spirea douglasii is generally pest and disease free. Always wear rubber gloves to prevent contact with the toxic sap, and cut back growth by about half its length. Pruning spirea douglasii is best done in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. This is because too much phosphorus can lead to lush growth of leaves and stems at the expense of flowers. Also, at this time, remove any dead, damaged, or diseased stems along with those that cross each other. Spiraeas are easy to grow and make excellent shrubs for a garden border, although they're not a good choice for pots. They're a perfect fit in most anyone's garden. Sow the seeds on the surface of a mix of perlite and peat moss. If it shows any stress I'll cut it all right down. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips all to help you grow successfully, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times , Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, Join the RHS today and support our charity. I think I'll leave as is, water regularly and keep an eye on it. Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. 6" sounds about right JPO1 ; it will soon recover . Spiraea billardi should receive a hard pruning regime in early Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. As with all border shrubs, a spring mulch of well-rotted organic matter will keep the soil and therefore the plant in good condition. Distribution. Planting Advice for your Spiraea douglasii: Grow your steeple bush in a sunny, sheltered site in well-drained soil - although it will tolerate most conditions. These plants may be either spring- or summer-flowering. Plant calendar Spiraea 'Goldflame' and wildlife Spiraea 'Goldflame' is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects and other pollinators. Grows up to 4-6 ft. tall (120-180 cm) and 3-6 ft. wide (90-180 cm). Sherri demonstrates how easy it is to prune her Japanese spirea in early spring. Avoid pruning in winter, as it may lead to frost damage of new shoots. Reduce all growth back by about a third to a permanent framework. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers. Cut back all growth in early spring to around 30cm from the ground. Spiraea (any S. japonica or S. douglasii variety) are upright to spreading, clump-forming or suckering, deciduous shrubs with ovate to lance-shaped, toothed leaves, sometimes variegated, and corymbs of bowl-shaped, pink, red, or white flowers in summer. These new shoots will flower in subsequent years. This charming rock garden combines easy-to-grow annuals, Adorned with lavender in full bloom on either side, this Two fragrant and vigorous climbing plants for a spectacular Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. Powdery mildew symptoms include white, powdery fungus spreading on the leaves, stems, and sometimes flowers and fruit. Size varies considerably, depending on the variety and varies from as little as 45cm high and wide to 2.4m, so matching the plant variety size to its site is clearly important. Plant Zone: 5-8. Depending on plant size, site your spiraea towards the back, middle or front of the border. Spiraea are deciduous shrubs, sometimes suckering, with simple leaves and short racemes, panicles or corymbs of small, 5-petalled white or pink flowers in spring or summer Name status Correct Plant range N America Advertise here How to grow Cultivation Easy to grow in most moist soils, tolerant of all but the most extreme conditions. Fall is the time for the most severe pruning of spirea. Spirea pruning is done after they have finished flowering, removing any dead or broken branches and shaping the shrub as needed, advises Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. Cut back the flowering stems hard, by as much as 60cm. Spiraeas are hardy and are ideally planted in autumn, during mild spells in winter, or early spring. To prune, simply remove any dead, diseased, or weak branches. We've found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through. Layering is done by bending a low-lying branch down to the ground and covering it with soil. If you wait until winter to do a big overhaul, it will leave the plant growing in an unbalanced fashion, some areas thicker and others more sparse. Spiraea arguta, and the Spiraea Goldflame can be treated the same way, but proportionate to size. However, watch for powdery mildew, leaf spots, and aphids. Eriobotrya japonica - If grown outdoors, then late winter or early spring, carry out minimal pruning for shaping. Set the plants in the bed, spacing them 18 inches apart. Normal practice is to prune approximately a third of the stems in this manner - each year. Non-floweringis common with young plants, badly pruned specimens or where conditions are not quite suitable. Nov 2013 | OSU Extension Catalog. from the ground. Step 5: finished with the trimming of branches from the base we can move to the top. External features of the spirea: Shrub 1.5 m high, gives a significant number of erect . Some say to cut the flowers off immediately they have finished flowering. The roots of Spirea douglasii are very shallow, so be careful not to damage them when you are working in the area around the plant. See above for USDA hardiness. Alaska. Deer seem to shun them because of their strong scent. It is a species of open, disturbed habitats, such as roadsides, forest edges, and mountain meadows. Show Codes How to Grow More Info Delivery 1. This is also the time to prune any branches that are rubbing against one another. Both of these problems can be controlled with regular spraying of an insecticide or fungicide. The summer is the best time to make the necessary cuts that keep the Spiraea to your desired shape. These plants are lifted from the nursery field when dormant, and sent to you in late autumn or spring for planting. In early spring, before the 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 makes no difference. The deep blue-green leaves are a handsome attribute during the summer months. Limnanthes douglasii (Meadow foam) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years. Water well and mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc. Pruning spirea douglasii is best done in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Fertilize spirea douglasii in early spring with a balanced fertilizer. From June to August bears tiny, pink flowers in large, pyramid-shaped plumes at the tips of the stems. tall up to 10 feet (3 m.) and the same across. In the spring, spirea will reward you're courageous pruning with new stems and plenty of blossoms. Viburnum is a popular flowering shrub that is relatively easy to grow. Replenish the mulch whenever the layer becomes visibly deteriorated. This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. Dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots and mix some well-rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill once the shrub is in place. spring. Perfect for filling gaps between other shrubs. Dont worry that the plant wont bounce back. Using sharp hedge shears, cut straight across the top of the bush. The plant does best in USDA hardiness zones 4-. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch to the soil surrounding spirea plants, beginning about 3 inches from the stems. Bees Beneficial insects Birds The image is of Spiraea douglasii - typical of later flowering Spiraeas that need pruning differently to the group above. Buy from Proven Winners Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of 2.99. The leaves are Alternate, simple, pinnate, with 5-9 obovate leaflets, the terminal leaflet often absent. Perfect for filling gaps in the garden, it will send up suckers that will soon form a dense thicket of leaves that becomes covered in its characteristic blooms through late spring and early summer. These shrubs do best when they are properly trimmed each year. Trim the stem tips back from their highest leaf bud. Spiraea betulifolia 'Island' a low growing, compact, deciduous shrub with white flowers. 2023 Thompson & Morgan. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 7 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Repeat the process to deadhead the spirea plant through the remainder of the growing season. S. prunifolia. douglasii. 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Grow and make the necessary cuts that keep the soil surrounding spirea plants badly. Spiraeas - Spiraea x douglasii and Spiraea canescens spring mulch of well-rotted organic matter keep... X s: 2m x 1.5m, Subscribe today them 18 inches apart shows any stress I 'll cut all... With active growth during the summer is the time for the most severe pruning of spirea Deeping Peterborough...