Steeple Bush Spiraea douglasii

Planting Advice:

• Grow your steeple bush in a sunny, sheltered site in well-drained soil - although it will tolerate most conditions.
• Dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots and mix some well-rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill once the shrub is in place.
• We've found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through.
• Before planting soak container-grown shrubs thoroughly and allow to drain.
• Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots.
• Add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker.
• Place your shrub in the hole at the same level at the pot.
• Refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling) and firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball.
• Water well and mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.
• If you’re planting into pots, place some old rocks, stones or gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainage and ballast.
• Use the best compost you can buy and some sand or grit for drainage.

Aftercare advice:

• Keep plants well-watered while they establish, especially if planted up in a pot.
• Hardy to -20C.

Pruning Advice:

• Spiraea requires no special pruning; only occasional maintenance is needed to remove any growth that has been damaged over winter.
• Overgrown shrubs can be cut back hard after flowering to rejuvenate them.