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How to get fuller spirea?

2 years ago

I dont know what kind of spirea these are but i read about pruning them back in the eand of winter so its what I’ve been doing. However they don’t look full and the branches droop. I feel like all the other spirea is see around don’t have this problem, though maybe its just the kind that I have? I’m in zone 7a and this area gets sun from early afternoon to evening.

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
if you want them fuller.. why do you keep cutting them back severely??

and what do you mean by fuller???

do you fert them ... this is a plant that never needs fert.. excess fert might make them droopy ...

the junipers have juniper tip blight.. may as well get rid of them.. as they are getting ugly ...

and if you do.. maybe it time for a total redo.. and get rid of S for no other reason than you dont like them ...

ken
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
There are about a bazillion types of spirea, and I think you just don’t like your variety. To me they look full (no bare spots) but not tall.

I hard prune mine to 6” every few years and I find mine respond well, regrowing to their typical height within a few weeks but without the mess of interspersed dead twigs. By now I have no idea on variety because they are 20+ years old.
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One possibility is to selectively prune back about a third of the stems/branches, about 6-18", in the mid-spring, as you see new growth. This should cause delayed flowering on those stems, and extend the season for you. If you REALLY wanted, you could do the same on another third a few weeks later, but that may be overkill. And this will work only if the spirea flowers on new growth. If it flowers on old growth, it won't work.
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Thanks for the input everyone!=D aegis500: I was wondering if it was just meant to grow like that. It's fine for me if it does, cause it's still cute in it's own way to me!=) I'll just let it grow out for now, cause it does have many old leaves left, and the new ones have been crowded out by the flower stalks! Perle_de_Or: I wish I had thought of taking a proper picture of it in full full bloom!=0 Somehow I went ahead and disbudded before doing it!=( *kicks herself* Though I do have pictures of non-full full bloom, and one of it hidden behind my spring onions in full bloom (not a good picture or angle, but you might see it if you squint hard!=P). I also took a picture of it now!=) Hope you guys don't get too disappointed by the photos though!=X Preparing to bloom: Blooms beginning to fill in: Really hidden full blooming at a bad bad angle (sorry if you can't see it guys!=(): Disbudded (hopefully it's healthy enough?=/): P.S: It's always had the old curly leaves since I got it, and the new leaves curl at the edges too... Do some plants just do that? Or could it be a pest or disease? I've always wondered that, but the flowers were perfectly fine, nor did I see any spilled pollen, so I've just been leaving it alone...=0 I do hope there's nothing seriously wrong with it though...=( But if there is, hopefully someone can help me identify it!=)
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Spiraeas are incredibly tough, durable plants. As one member who frequents these forums likes to point out, you can drive over them with a truck and they will rebound and regrow promptly :-) Exercise that guarantee and have them replaced (although I would wait until later in the season - now is NOT a good time for planting!). I am not sure what is the issue with your current ones but water would be at the top of my list. First, they will need much more water to get established than the juniper in the background. And second, if the rootball was not properly hydrated before planting, it is extremely difficult to rewet or hydrate properly once in the ground, despite how frequently you may be watering.
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htrinh
Original Author
2 years ago
I guess but not full, I’m referring to the branches drooping and so from the top you see them a lot and to the center of the plant.

Thanks for the comment on the junipers! I tried to find out a while ago what was wrong with them but my local nursery wasn’t very helpful and just recommended fertilizing them.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
sure.. why not.. we dont know whats wrong.. but here.. spend another 10 bucks.. that we will gladly take from you .. lol ... id find a better nursery ... for this kind of stuff anyway ....

if you cut it down... they are growing one first year wood ... and based on the bulk of the flowers.. they are drooping... if you do not cut them down.. then the current stuff will be 2 year old wood next year.. and the plant will be taller.. and droop from that height ...

but.. you didnt like them prior ... so you read and started pruning them down.. and you still dont like them.. so why dont you just cut bait.. and get rid of them.. and plant something that.. hopefully.. you will like ... it is what it is.. and apparently you arent going to change all that ....

life really is too short to mess with plants that piss you off ... get something that will make your toes tingle.. and bring you joy ... instead of a festering wounds that irritates you every time you look at it ... and for a shiny penny.. ill tell you how i really feel about it all .. lol ..

ken

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