How to Care for Bridal Veil Spireas

Select an area in your yard that receives partial shade to full sun, or at least six hours of direct sunlight. Using a shovel, dig a hole as deep as the spirea's root ball in the selected area during the spring or fall months. Position the hole at least six feet away from other plants

Add some compost to the bottom of the hole and mix it into the dirt. Mix additional compost in the loose dirt removed from the hole. Place the root ball of the bridal veil spirea into the center of the hole. Fill the hole with the loose soil. Pat the soil down around the root ball as you add it to secure the plant in place.

Spread a thin layer of compost over the soil around the shrub. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch over the compost around the base of the spirea. Do not let the mulch or compost come in contact with the trunk of the spirea.

Water the area around the base of the shrub thoroughly using a garden hose. Water the shrub weekly until it becomes established and new growth begins to appear on the tips of the branches.

Fertilize the spirea once per year in the spring. Spread a slow release all-purpose fertilizer in a ring around the base of the shrub. Apply the fertilizer at the recommended rate on the package. Read all instructions and warnings on the package before making the application. Water the shrub thoroughly after applying the fertilizer to activate its release.

Spread a layer of compost over the ground around the shrub each spring. Use a trowel or rake to mix the compost into the top one or two inches of soil. Add up to two inches of mulch over the ground after composting to reduce moisture loss.

Water your bridal veil spirea only during dry, hot periods when the amount of rain is less than one inch per week. Provide a long, deep watering to ensure that the moisture soaks into the soil and reaches the roots.

Prune your spirea after it has stopped blooming. Remove broken, diseased or dead canes first by clipping them at ground level with a pair of pruning shears. Cut out any branches that take away from the overall shape and appearance of the shrub. Remove no more than one-third of the shrub's branches.