Bridal wreath (Spiraea × vanhouttei): when and how to prune

Bridal wreath (Spiraea × vanhouttei): when to prune it?

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Straight after flowering, in June.

What else to prune in those months? June

Bridal wreath (Spiraea × vanhouttei): how to prune it?

1. Cut flowered stems back to a strong, young side shoot lower down.
2. Each year, remove a few of the oldest stems at the base to keep the shrub young.
3. Remove dead and weak stems.
4. Do not clip it into a ball: its natural arching shape is the most beautiful.
5. An old, neglected shrub can be cut back to just above the ground after flowering. It will reshoot and flower fully again after a few years.

How much to cut, and how often?

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

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in June can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Bridal wreath (Spiraea × vanhouttei) flowers in May, 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

• Spiraea
• Japanese spiraea
• Birchleaf spiraea (Spiraea betulifolia)
• Foam of May (Spiraea × arguta)
• Nippon spiraea (Spiraea nipponica)
• Spiraea (Spiraea × cinerea)

Plant profile: Bridal wreath (Spiraea × vanhouttei) · Pruning calendar and basic rules