Please guide me on pruning Weigela and Spiraea

9 years ago

Hello, Im very new to gardening, we just moved into a home that had neglected flower beds for nearly 3 years. This spring I noticed so many dead branches on this Weigela (pretty sure thats what it is anyway) and so pruned it leaving the branches that appeared alive, that sent a bunch of new shoots to the bottom of the plant and leaving these few branches. Similar story to the Spiraea. After the blooming how should I prune these back? Should I just lop of these major branches on the Weigela so its all the same size as the new shoots?
My Spiraea is looking sparse and terrible, its in the front of our house and am thinking of just taking it out if I cant get it to look any better. Im not crazy about it because of how ugly it looked in winter and early spring!
Any direction is appreciated!

Comments (4)

gmcaw85
Original Author
9 years ago
Spiraea
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
weigela .. cut off everything greater than 2 foot tall.. as close to the ground.. and watch it rejuvenate itself ..

the other.. cut off everything over 5 feet.. as close to the ground as you can ... and if there is a damaged part.. take that also ...

google: rejuvenation pruning of flowering shrubs ... you are now starting the process ...

ken
Related Professionals
Port Royal Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Broadlands Landscape Contractors · Dickinson Landscape Contractors · Firestone Landscape Contractors · Flagstaff Landscape Contractors · Huntington Landscape Contractors · Lynchburg Landscape Contractors · Madera Landscape Contractors · North Haven Landscape Contractors · Atlanta Window Contractors · Payson Window Contractors · University Window Contractors · Charlotte Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Los Alamitos Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Rosemont Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures
whaas_5a
9 years ago
Its as simple as that with these shrubs.

I'd do as Ken mentioned very soon though. Otherwise you can do some minor pruning now then do the more drastic pruning late winter/early spring right before or as the bud start swelling.

You'll be surprised at home much nicer they'll look.

Just don't be afraid the cut it back. To get a more rounded look, prune back further on the outer stems than you do the middle stems.
gmcaw85
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you both for the advice! So the major rejuvenation is done in early spring? Not now after flowering? Or in this case can I do it right away? I'll google what you recommended as well!