google: REJUVENATION PRUNING OF FLOWERING SHRUBS ....

remove 1/3 of the branches as close to the ground as possible ...

if you do it at height.. next year you will have the same plant.. but twice as tall .. and twice as floppy ...

spirea are 'run it over with the truck' shrubs ...

you can.. cut it completely to the ground.. and will have a wonderful new plant by fall ...

do NOT cut it at height ... IMHO ...

check out the link

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

IME, spirea of any variety can be pruned back hard - virtually to the ground - without concern :-) Once upon a time I had a bridalwreath spirea that for some reason attracted serious aphid infestations. Chopped that puppy back to its roots and it came back stronger and better than ever (at least until the aphids reappeared the following spring). Eventually removed it entirely when I no longer cared to routinely do battle with bugs.

I also used to prune back my 'Magic Carpet' spireas routinely during the growing season. I disliked the insipid pink flowers but relished the bright colored new leaf growth so trimmed it back extensively every time it set flower buds. Inevitably, I would expose some bare stems with this process but they budded back out rapidly.

FWIW, pruning actually encourages growth in most plants, especially deciduous shrubs, so I doubt you have much to be concerned with hard pruning your spirea now.

Just to be safe, let me say I have Spirea japonica 'Limemound'.

Ken, thanks for the link. Also, I googled as suggested, but then went a little nuts reading what some nuts out there have to say. Example, http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_8cd8.html

This states the Limemound has 5" leaves. INCORRECT.

Don't wish to cut entirely to the ground because these are in a highly visible spot on the slope adjacent to the patio. Will try rejuvenation pruning as Ken and Gardengal suggest. Starting this evening after our bleaking hot GA sun leaves the area.

I dug out some small ones that have rooted - I guess from stems - and they're doing great. Moved a couple of weeks ago. May try moving more once I can see into the plants better.

Thanks! Rosie

Ken and gardengal, I've done major pruning of the spireas, reducing them to about 18" from 48+". Started last Wednesday and already have new growth!

Originally planted three, now have about a dozen. Can I move the small plants that have grown from stems rooting (I think that's what happened)? I'll wait if you shrub experts say I should.

Thanks again, Rosie of the chewed up arms from all that pruning