How to Care for Spirea in Winter

The spirea is a landscape staple. Depending on which of the more than 80 species you grow, the spirea provides hedging, accent or foundation plantings. Their compact blooms, in red, yellow, white or pink, persist through spring and summer. Many varieties offer striking fall foliage before entering dormancy in the winter. Even then the spirea is accommodating, requiring no protection from the elements in chilly winters.

Rake
Pruning shears
Dormant oil spray

Instructions

- 1
  Rake the soil around the spirea in early winter to clean it of fallen leaves, twigs and old mulch. Spread a fresh, 3-inch layer of mulch around the plant, keeping it 6 inches from its base.
- 2
  Water the spirea slowly and deeply – to at least 10 inches -- right at the onset of winter.
- 3
  Prune the spirea in late winter by cutting off dead flowers and broken branches.
- 4
  Spray the spirea three times over the winter with dormant oil spray, at the rate listed in the product's instructions. Apply the spray in November, December and February.

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