Too late to prune bridal wreath (spirea?)

mfmaybe

Struggling to justify this as greenfingered moneysaving issue, really it's just a greenfingered question. But you could argue that if I mess it up I'll have to buy a replacement

Anyway we have a fairly established Bridal Wreath spirea that is a bit big. It flowered a few weeks ago and I just googled how to prune it, but read that it should happen "immediately after flowering". Does that literally mean immediately, or would a few weeks grace be ok?

Reason for asking is I gave it a fair chop last year, and I don't think it flowered nearly so well this year. It's a highlight at a fairly uninteresting time in the garden, so don't want to mess it up.

Also, while I'm talking flowering, I have lots of green and not much in flower just now. The alliums were great but are over, and the black elder and my other spirea are just starting to flower. What are good early summer flowering bulbs or perennials? We are in Southern Scotland.

Thanks for any advice.

balletshoes

my peony rose has been and gone this year, so has my lilac (and everyone else's - its a very popular bush/tree in all its varieties here in the Midlands ). My hydrangeas are just about to flower, my dog roses have been blooming for around a week, and my mock orange tree is just about to blossom.

mfmaybe

Thank you, we have some dog rose, in the hedge, though not enough. (We are slowly trying to eradicate the vigorous yet ugly snowberry and encourage more of the hawthorn, dog rose and elder).

I think I've tried and failed with a Mexican orange blossom before. I have quite a few shrubs though, so ideally would like to add herbaceous perennials or bulbs rather than more shrubs. Hydrangea might be possible though, they can be grown in tubs can't they?

kerri_gt

Were in the south east but our Hebe is just about to flower, whoever planted up our front garden seemed to know what they were doing, at one end we have a kerria japonica that starts flowering first. When that finishes the next bush flowers (no idea what it is), there was a yukka next but that got root rot and we dug it out, finally we have the hebe. All the bushes are great for attracting bees too.

mfmaybe

I had a lovely Hebe "Heartbreaker" but bad weather a couple of years ago saw it off. I might replace it actually, good idea. I have foxgloves just flowering, this is the first year I've let them grow and they are quite pretty so might let those self seed some more. The heuchera is just "flowering" just now but it's quite low growing.

Might have to invest in some container grown specimens as well.

madjackslam

I don't think it's too late to prune the Spiraea. If you can see the branches that have flowered this year (they may still have the brown, crusty remnants of the flowers) then take these out, rather than giving the plant an overall haircut. Take out weak/dead stems as well. Also, remember to weed, feed and mulch while you are about it.

mfmaybe

Thanks Madjackslam, I will give that a try.

mfmaybe

http://davesgarden.com/guides/terms/go/779/

I just found this, which makes sense to me now that I read it. I think I pruned it later last year which explains why I didn't get such a great show.

carollhardie

madjackslam wrote: »

I don't think it's too late to prune the Spiraea. If you can see the branches that have flowered this year (they may still have the brown, crusty remnants of the flowers) then take these out, rather than giving the plant an overall haircut. Take out weak/dead stems as well. Also, remember to weed, feed and mulch while you are about it.

Prune when the buds have begun to swell.[1] This is an indicator that the bush is ready to be pruned. When the buds have just begun to swell, you'll be able to prune effectively without causing any damage.

Check the stems for signs of leaf bud growth. If you haven't seen any new growth since the fall, and you don't see tiny new swells, wait a few more weeks before pruning then by gardening north side .The buds should also turn redder in color as they swell, another sign the bush is ready for pruning north shore.

carollhardie

balletshoes wrote: »

my peony rose has been and gone this year, so has my lilac (and everyone else's - its a very popular bush/tree in all its varieties here in the Midlands ). My hydrangeas are just about to flower, my dog roses have been blooming for around a week, and my mock orange tree is just about to blossom.

Peonies are outrageously beautiful in bloom, with lush foliage all summer long. These perennials may live longer than you do—some have been known to thrive for 100 years. The plants require little maintenance as long as they are planted properly and establish themselves; they do not respond well to transplanting

carollhardie

balletshoes wrote: »

my peony rose has been and gone this year, so has my lilac (and everyone else's - its a very popular bush/tree in all its varieties here in the Midlands:) ). My hydrangeas are just about to flower, my dog roses have been blooming for around a week, and my mock orange tree is just about to blossom.

Peonies are outrageously beautiful in bloom, with lush foliage all summer long and gardening north side. These perennials may live longer than you do—some have been known to thrive for 100 years. The plants require garden maintenance north shore as long as they are planted properly and establish themselves; they do not respond well to transplanting