How to Prune Magic Carpet Spirea

Wait until the early spring to prune the Magic Carpet spirea, before new leaves develop. The optimal pruning time for most areas is around mid- to late March.

Remove all diseased stems at the surface of the ground using hand pruners. Diseased stems may have black or white growths or feel noticeably hollow or soft instead of rigid.

Measure the height of the tallest vertical spirea stem using a tape measure and divide the measurement by three. Place the tape measure at the ground and measure up to the new height, which is 1/3 the height of the tallest vertical stem. This is where you will cut back the Magic Carpet spirea to.

Cut the tallest vertical stem off at the marked location using hand pruners or pruning shears. Then cut all remaining stems back to the same height with the pruning shears, using the first cut stem as a guide.

Place the pruning shears at the top center of the Magic Carpet spirea stems and cut toward the sides of the shrub, sloping downward slightly as you do so to recreate the mounding shape.

Examine the diameter of the stems and locate the one that is the thickest, meaning it is also the oldest. Hold the stem in one hand and locate the point of origination near the base of the plant. Cut the stem off at the base using hand pruners. Remove three or four additional older stems at the base of the plant in the same manner.

Repeat the pruning procedure every two to three years to maintain a healthy and attractive Magic Carpet spirea.