Marianne's Response

Spirea Spring Frost

We have Had 4 dark knight Bluebeard Spirea for not quite 2 years. I trimmed the blossoms last spring and leafs and flowers came back fine. This year Colorado had a hard frost in mid April that froze and killed the leaf buds that were about 1/4 inch. I have trimmed the bushes back again To where the flowers started just a couple of weeks ago but everything still looks dead with no new growth at leaf location nor from the ground. Is there a chance they are still alive or did the frost probably kill them. The attached photo was before trimming back about 10”.

Posted by Cheryl Bullard on May 25, 2020

Marianne's Response

The shrub does indeed look hopelessly damaged but when it comes to plants the secret is the root system. If the top of your shrub is still lifeless and leafless by mid summer cut it all the way back to within a few inches from the ground. This will encourage a last ditch effort to send up new shoots from a still kicking root system and your plant may just give Colorado and the severe climate another chance. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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