With its lush, abundant blooms and easy-going nature, Spirea is a total favorite for home gardeners. It’s also a fantastic choice for a flowering hedge! If you’re looking to add some privacy and a pop of color to your yard, here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for a Spirea hedge.
Getting Ready to Plant Your Spirea Hedge
Starting a Spirea hedge is actually pretty straightforward. However, before you grab your shovel, there are two main things you’ll want to think about:
- Choosing the right variety
- Figuring out your spacing
Which Spirea variety is best for you?
Not every Spirea is built the same. One thing to keep in mind: because of their natural, arching growth habit, Spireas aren’t really meant for that “perfectly manicured” box shape. If you’re looking for a crisp, geometric hedge, this might not be your plant. Spirea looks best when it’s allowed to be a little wild and fluffy!
When picking a variety, check the mature height. Try to find one that naturally grows to your desired hedge height (or just a bit taller). This saves you a ton of work on pruning later! Also, keep an eye on the width—extra-wide varieties will need more frequent trimming to keep them from taking over the walkway.
Want a custom look? You can mix and match different flower colors for a beautiful effect. Just make sure the varieties you choose have similar growth rates and sizes so your hedge stays nice and even.
How much space do you need?
This really depends on the specific variety you choose. As a general rule of thumb, spacing plants about 20 inches (50 cm) apart usually does the trick. You might go a little tighter for a denser look or wider for larger varieties.
How to Plant Your Spirea Hedge
The actual planting process is a breeze. Before you put them in the ground, give your plants a good, deep soak. Once they’re hydrated, just follow these steps:
- Dig a trench or individual holes slightly deeper than the root balls.
- Place your Spireas in the ground, making sure to stick to your planned spacing.
- Fill the rest of the hole with soil, ensuring the root balls are fully covered.
- Gently tamp down the soil with your hands or feet to remove air pockets, then give them another generous watering.
Caring for Your Spirea Hedge
One of the best things about Spirea is how low-maintenance it is. In most garden soils, you won’t even need to worry about fertilizer. The main task on your to-do list will be a regular pruning.
Just a quick heads-up for my bird-loving gardeners: while you can do light tidying up anytime, try to save your heavy structural pruning for the late fall or winter (between October and February). This keeps the hedge healthy and ensures you aren’t disturbing any nesting birds during the spring and summer months!
