How to Trim a Bridal Veil Bush

Arming yourself with pruning shears is the best way to tackle trimming a bush.

Spirea shrubs, or bridal veil bushes, typically grow from six to ten feet tall. During their blooming season, they bedeck themselves in clusters of delicate white blooms. As the blooming seasons passes, the blooms will wilt or darken, which will require pruning. You should prune the shrub once or twice a year to maintain a reasonable shape and height.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Step-stool or ladder

Instructions

1. Wait until the appropriate time of year to trim your plant. Spirea do not need frequent trimming- once or twice a year will suffice. All bridal veil bushes bloom in the spring or summer. If your spirea flower in the spring, prune them after the blooming season has passed to remove dead flowers and maintain an adequate shape of the whole shrub. If your spirea flower in the summer, prune them in late winter or early spring before the leaves appear.

2. Gather the necessary pruning equipment. You will need pruning shears, preferably the long kind that require two hands. Since spirea is tall, you will also need a step-stool or ladder to reach the top of the plant.

3. Study the plant before you begin trimming. This is a large shrub, so you will need perspective before you start trimming. Appraise the situation from a distance of several feet. Determine which areas need trimming to encourage growth in the direction you desire.

4. Begin trimming the unwanted plant material. For a spring spirea, trim away faded blooms and any other dead material. For summer spirea, trim the plant to remove any branches that did not survive the winter. Make one or two cuts at a time. Step away to evaluate the plant. It makes the process longer, but over-pruning can kill the plant entirely. Spirea is not intended to be meticulously manicured. Do not attempt to create a stark shape.

5. Collect all of the trimmed material when you have finished trimming the plant. Check around the plant for any other dead material that may inhibit proper growth. Remove any that you find.

References

• Garden Ideas: Symphony Of Spirea
• Heritage Perennials: Ask an Expert