FAQ: When to prune vibernum?

When should viburnum be pruned?

If you’re pruning viburnums to restrain or shape their growth, the timing for when to prune viburnum is right after flowering. Viburnums typically form their flower buds for the following year during the summer after flowering. If you wait to prune viburnums in fall or early spring, you risk cutting off flower buds.

Can viburnum be cut back hard?

Viburnums generally require very little pruning, but hard pruning may be necessary if the growing area is too small for the species or if the plant is old and lackluster.

How do I prune an overgrown viburnum?

Immediately after it flowers next spring, remove dead stems and suckers, and prune out one-third of the oldest stems. Continue removing the oldest stems each spring until the plant has an attractive and natural-looking shape.

How do you prune viburnum?

To shape a viburnum, prune it lightly immediately after flowering. Remove the flower heads and cut back any branches that spoil the shape of the shrub to a pair of newly-sprouted leaves. Remember that removing the flower heads will preclude the formation of fruit, which can be very attractive in many viburnums.

Does viburnum bloom on old wood?

Most viburnums don’t need pruning. Viburnums bloom on old wood, meaning they form new flower buds during the summer that will open the following spring. If you prune viburnums in the late summer or winter, you’ll cut off the spring flowers.

Can you keep viburnum small?

Viburnums can be cut back hard in late winter or early spring to keep compact. When pruning any shrub, though, the general rule of thumb is not to remove more than 1/3 of its growth.

How tall do viburnum get?

Viburnums are usually shrubs, but their habits vary. A few dwarf varieties, such as Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’, are under 3 feet. Others, such as Seibold viburnum (V. seiboldii), may grow up to 20 feet tall.

How do you take care of a viburnum bush?

When it comes to viburnum care, water shrubs during dry periods. It will also help to add mulch to retain moisture. You can apply a slow-release fertilizer to viburnums as well but this isn’t required. In addition, pruning the shrub should be included with viburnum care.

How do you deadhead viburnum?

Removing old and dying blooms allows room for new, fresh blooms to appear.

1. Deadhead viburnum blooms when they begin to turn brown, appear wilted or drop their petals.
2. Grasp the branch carefully below the spent bloom.
3. Cut the viburnum flower at the base of its stem if new or existing blooms exist around or behind it.

Does viburnum need pruning?

On average, viburnum shrubs need relatively little pruning. However, it never hurts to practice occasional viburnum pruning each year to maintain shape and overall beauty.

Should snowball bushes be cut back?

Your snowball viburnum blooms in the Spring, so it is best to prune it right after it flowers. Prune it any later, and you’ll be cutting off next year’s flowers. Dirr recommends pruning the whole thing back to 2-3 ft above ground in early Spring and have it grow back.

Can pruning kill bushes?

Over pruning reduces the foliage that’s available for making food for the rest of the plant and can allow pests and diseases access to the tree, if cuts are made incorrectly. So, although pruning may not kill your plant directly, over pruned trees and shrubs can die as a long term result of the associated stress.

How do you fertilize viburnum?

Viburnums appreciate an annual application of a balanced fertilizer in spring. A balanced fertilizer has an equal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which should read 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 on the label.

Why are my viburnum leaves turning brown?

Among the most common causes for viburnum leaves turning brown or black are leaf spot diseases. Don’t panic. Leaf spot fungal diseases, as well as the fungal disease anthracnose, usually do not do lasting harm to your plants. Rake up and burn the brown viburnum leaves that have fallen.