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Spirea are some of the toughest and most rewarding shrubs we have in our Minnesota landscapes. They are reliable, low-maintenance, and offer beautiful flowers and foliage. However, to keep them looking their best and prevent them from becoming overgrown, proper pruning is key.

The most common question we get is, "When is the best time to trim my spirea?" The answer depends entirely on one simple thing: when does it bloom?

Pruning Spirea: A Tale of Two Seasons

Spirea are divided into two main groups, and their pruning schedules are completely different.

1. Spring-Blooming Spirea (Blooms on "Old Wood")

These are the classic, old-fashioned types with cascading branches that are covered in white flowers in the spring, often before the leaves are fully out.

• When to Prune: The rule is the same as for lilacs: prune them immediately after they finish flowering in late spring.

• Why: As the University of Minnesota Extension explains, these spirea form their flower buds on the wood that grew the previous year. If you prune them in the fall, winter, or early spring, you will cut off all the buds and get no flowers. A light trim right after blooming gives them the whole season to produce the wood that will carry next year's blooms.

2. Summer-Blooming Spirea (Blooms on "New Wood")

These are the most common types found in modern landscapes, known for their pink, red, or white flowers that appear in summer, often...