Spirea , also known as meadowsweet , is a genus of woody shrubs aboriginal to easterly Asia . The plants are valued for their attractive white , pinkish or red flowers , which bloom in natural spring and summer , depending on the variety . Plants grow from 3 to 8 feet in height , with a ranch of 3 to 5 feet . Spirea plant are fast - growing and take only minimal caution to thrive in the plate garden .
Step 1
Purchase spirea plants balled - and - burlapped or container - grown , and industrial plant in early spring or descent . pick out a planting location that has productive , well - drained and slimly acidic soil . verify the area receives full sun to partial shadowiness , although full sunlight is best for prolific blooming .
Step 2
Dig a planting hole about three times as wide as the root orb and slightly less than equal depth . Place the spirea plant life into the golf hole so the crown sits 1 to 2 inches above soil level , and then gently back - occupy the planting hole with soil .
Step 3
Water spirea plants thoroughly after set . go on watering once per week throughout leaping and summer , but only on calendar week that do not obtain at least 2 inches of raw rainfall . quash the frequency of water to once every 10 to 14 days in free fall . No supplemental watering is need during wintertime .
Step 4
Apply a 3 - inch layer of mulch to the soil surrounding spirea plants , set out about 3 inches from the root word . Do not allow the mulch to touch the plant life ’s base , as this encourages the outgrowth of fungous disease . Replenish the mulch whenever the level becomes visibly deteriorate .
Step 5
provender spiraea plants doubly per class , once in spring and again in fall , to encourage Modern ontogenesis . utilise a dumb - release organic fertilizer according to the manufacturing business ’s program line . piss the soil thoroughly before and after fertilize to foreclose beginning burn .
Step 6
Prune spring - blooming spirea plant just after flowers blow over by transfer sure-enough or dead wood from the interior of the bush with pruning shear . Prune summer - blooming Astilbe japonica varieties in other springtime by snipping off the tips of the subdivision with shears just before growth begins .
Tip
The crown of the plant is the area where the roots see the stem . Use shredded bark mulch , pine needles or shred farewell to mulch spirea plants .
