Spirea "Gold Flame"

I live in zone 5a. What spring care should be given to Gold Flame spirea? They were planted during the fall of 2004. Should the old flower heads be removed? Should the bushes be pruned back? What kind of fertilizer (or bone meal) should be used, if any?

Hi, neighbor! :-) I can't give you answers to your questions, but we're in zone 5b, not that it would make a whole lot of difference.

wlmicroman,
I Googled Gold Flame spirea, and there is quite a bit of info there. It does say that this variety blooms on new growth, so they suggest you prune back in the spring, before new growth. I was surprised to learn that you can cut nearly back to ground!
Yours does have the pink blooms?
Deanna

DeannaV -- yes, the bloom is pink. I have attached a photo from a search on the Internet.

Here is another image during late spring - early summer

Spirea usually are cut down to 6" or so before new growth in the spring. They really don't need much for fertilizer, but if you want to do one light treatment in the spring it should be fine - something balanced.
Al

You will enjoy playing with this plant. I have shaped it and let it go and I like that. But lately I have opened the center of the bush to get more flowering and enjoy the colors and flowers I get this way also. This bush likes to be cut be creative and do it different each time you want to have fun and cut.

wlm,

I hack the heck out of mine whenever it gets out of bounds,,,comes back wonderful avery year.

That's right, whack it! It will come back stronger and more flowerful. This is a favorite of mine, have never needed to fertilize it. We have clay soil and bark mulch.