One more post tonight - I lied

[DinaJean]

We cleared this area by the patio door on the old house (which we intend to tear down eventually) but it appears as though some one came along and tore out a fireplace and threw all the bricks out the patio door in a 2-3 foot pile right on top of everything that was growing there. Well, it continued to grow into a big mass of wild roses, clematis, saw briars, honeysuckle, who knows what else. In the middle of it all was what I think was a spirea. We got all the bricks out and all the briars cut back. Nice soil underneath it all. Have this 8 foot spirea (I think it's a spirea) that has dirt and roots 2 feet higher up from the original dirt level where the original roots are. God knows how long those bricks were there. My question is, should I leave it as is, or try to mound dirt back up to where it had been for the last however many years?

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Here is a picture of the blooms, can anyone confirm it is a spirea? I will take a picture tomorrow of the whole bush so y'all can see what I mean about the dirt level.

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Thanks in advance for any help

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[Newt]

I would definately cover the roots that sprouted along the stems if it was happy that way.* Here's info on the heirloom spirea - Spirea cantoniensis - Double bridal wreath spirea. I think that's your shrub.* What a treasure!
http://www.magnoliagardensnursery.co...ea_Bridal.html
http://www.floridata.com/ref/S/spir_can.cfm

Newt

[DinaJean]

Just compared some picture on my computer and it is definitely double bridal wreath. Yay, spirea is one of the plants I had to leave behind when I sold my house in Mass. *I also have one of these growing in the woods (that was once NOT woods) along with three azaleas of varying pink colors. I am sure this bunch here was planted and they are not wild azaleas. One more project...move the woods back a little, OR....move the bushes? They are pretty old, all about 5 feet wide and tall. Probably should just clear the woods, prune the bushes and leave them there?

[DinaJean]

Couple of pictures of the spirea. 1st picture shows whole bush. It looks like the soil is packed higher than it is, but there is also alot of it is old leaves that need to be cleaned out....that black and blue snake that I saw hanging around in the spirea last week has sort of kept me away for a little while.

Second picture shows the roots I mentioned, which seem small, maybe from layering itself? So should I pile some more bricks around it and dump some dirt in there? Cant think of any other way to make the dirt stay since it is on a small, but pretty steep grade.

[Newt]

Wow, that's sure overgrown.* I think I would not transplant if I didn't have to, but leave it where it is.* A picture is so helpful.* It shows that it's been improperly pruned.* :(* To prune this type of shrub, the long canes shouldn't be cut, but one third of the oldest canes should be cut level with the ground each year for 3 years.* That way it won't be overpruned any one year and stress the plant more.* That will help to open up the interior and allow the longer and younger canes to cascade in a fountain shape.* Forsythia and lilacs should also be pruned this way.* Have I given you sites on how to prune shrubs?

Looking at the picture, you can cut those roots instead of putting back the soil.* I think that will be best.* I'm really glad you posted a picture.

Newt