Nippon spiraea (Spiraea nipponica): when and how to prune

Nippon spiraea (Spiraea nipponica): when to prune it?

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Straight after flowering, from late June into July. It flowers on last year’s wood.

What else to prune in those months? July

Nippon spiraea (Spiraea nipponica): how to prune it?

1. Cut out about a third of the oldest stems right at the base.
2. Shorten flowered stems to a strong young side shoot.
3. Remove dead and weak stems from the centre of the shrub.
4. Never shear it into a ball: that destroys the lovely arching shape.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: July.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in July can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Nippon spiraea (Spiraea nipponica) flowers in June, when it attracts bees.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Birchleaf spiraea (Spiraea betulifolia)
• Japanese spiraea
• Spiraea
• Bridal wreath (Spiraea × vanhouttei)
• Foam of May (Spiraea × arguta)
• Spiraea (Spiraea × cinerea)

Plant profile: Nippon spiraea (Spiraea nipponica) · Pruning calendar and basic rules