Prune spirea in late winter or early spring before new growth starts
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased stems first
Cut out crossing or crowded branches at the base
Thin older stems by removing up to one-third of the oldest canes at ground level
Shape the shrub by shortening remaining stems to the desired height
For summer-blooming spirea, prune after flowering if needed
For overgrown plants, cut the entire shrub back to 6 to 12 inches above the ground in early spring
Use clean, sharp pruning shears or loppers
Disinfect tools before and after pruning
Remove all cut debris from around the plant