Plant Name: Spirea – Snowmound
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Technical name: Spiraea Nipponica 'Snowmound' (Native to Japan)
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Plant Family / Type: Rosaceae (Roses) / Deciduous Flowering Shrub
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Preferred location: Full Sun / Partial Sun
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Mature height: 3’ – 5’
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Mature Width: 3’ – 4’
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Growth Rate / Habit: Moderate / Compact, Spreading
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Flower / Foliage:
· Dainty White flowers line the arching branches– late Spring
· Leaves are small dark Blue-Green
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Preferred soil:
· Well-drained soils
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Pruning and Maintenance:
· Time – after flowering
· Snowmound is Spring-blooming Spirea. Not pruned will become Overgrown, Twiggy and less flowers
· Remove dead, diseased, spindly, or split branches. Prune these branches back either to the ground or to a spot where they join a healthy, live branch
· Gradual Renovation Pruning
o Cut back 1/3 of the oldest branches to the ground annually in order to stimulate a supply of new growth
o Start by cutting out the branch that sticks out the most and contributes the least to the overall form of the shrub. Cut the branch off as close to the base as possible using a sharp, narrow saw, or bypass loppers if the branch is not that big
o Once you have removed the first branch, evaluate the shrub again and take out the next worst branch. Repeat this process until you have removed 1/3 (and no more) of the oldest branches. As you prune, do your best to create a shrub with a balanced form and graceful shape
o To complete the renovation pruning process, you will need to repeat above steps each Spring for two (2) more years. After the 3rd spring, you will have removed all of the old growth and will have a virtually new shrub. To keep your shrub looking good, prune out dead and unhealthy wood annually
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Fertilize
· Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in Spring
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