Question
I'm in northeast Iowa (zone 4). We had a few 60-80 degree days in late March or early April and my Goldmound Spirea started leafing out. Then we were hammered with snow and cold. The leaves weren't all the way out when they froze, but what was there is now brown, dry, and they crumble easily - clearly those leaves are dead and the dead leaves cover most of each shrub. Toward the center of the plant, close to the ground, I'm getting some new leaves, however.

My question is this: Should I just cut them back severely (say...to within 6-8 inches of the ground)? I actually did cut back one of them. Most of the branches are alive - even though the leaves on them are dead, but then I got to thinking that maybe I shouldn't be cutting spirea back in spring. So I stopped and came into the house to post this question. Should I cut them back now? How close to the ground should I cut them? Thanks.

Answer
Bob,

I would recommend waiting to see how they leaf out this spring and prune back any dead areas. Spirea will put out a second flush of growth if the first one is damaged.

Fertilize them well with a balanced fertilizer to encourage new growth.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen