Bushes need one application of slow-release granular fertilizer in spring. How old the shrub is makes a difference, too. You should actually prune your spirea more than once a year, at least twice. BrightView Horticulturist Scott Kopitskie explains how to properly prune a spirea to increase the plant's bloom and control its size. Maintaining the height and spread of your Spirea Shrub, and to preserve an attractive shape. Prune off the dead branches, and see if it comes back. Replant the root sections and you’ll have new, vigorous growth when the plant re-emerges in the spring. As you cut sections of the shrub, be sure that you maintain the shape. Thank you to the writers - much appreciated. Dividing Spirea Shrubs 1. In early to mid-spring cut back the previous year's flowering stems to within one or two buds of the older woody framework. Give it a good trim after it flowers in the spring by cutting back the tips of the stems to the top leaf bud. I'll wait another week or two and trim. Scrape away some soil around the root if necessary. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Prune-Spirea-Shrubs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Spirea-Shrubs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Prune-Spirea-Shrubs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid4911745-v4-728px-Prune-Spirea-Shrubs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"