Prune viburnums after flowering only if pruning is necessary for shaping. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 85,706 times. One doesn’t need to be an expert at pruning, when it comes to this bush. I have done it both ways but prefer to leave them alone. The snowball bush, a cherished, old fashioned garden shrub that produces fluffy balls of summery white blooms, is a member of the Viburnum genus. A hardy shrub that does well in the UK, the snowball is easy to plant and care for, and requires very little maintenance. These showy shrubs bloom with large clusters of tiny white flowers, which resemble snowballs. This is a good way to avoid a thicket of canes. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. When to Prune Viburnum. If you like hydrangeas, you are going to love this flowering shrub.The Chinese snowball viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum) is a large shrub in the Viburnum genus.In April and May, it is adorned with hydrangea-like blooms that can reach up to 6 … Best offers for your Garden - https://amzn.to/2InnD0w ----- Difference Between Snowball Bush & Hydrangea. Growing to a size of around 4.5 by 4.5 metres, clusters of tiny white flowers resembling snowballs cover the plant in spring. Their colorful spring and summer evolution begins with green blooms before turning bright white and fading to pink as they wither. For 17 years, she worked for a Fortune 500 company before purchasing a business and starting a family. Viburnum plicatum ‘Mary Milton’ is a very beautiful shrub, and its blooming in spring is as wonderful as its foliage in fall. Learn about pruning bushes and shrubs, including when to prune and how to properly shape hedges. Prune the shrub at a slight angle so that there is a gradual thickening towards the base. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. "Great site! I don't have to search through thousands of other sites.". Also remove any that are beginning to intertwine. Snowball bushes, also known as Viburnum opulus \"Roseum,\" are tall ornamental shrubs that produce vibrant white blooms resembling their wintery namesake. The best time to prune your Viburnum snowball bush is after the flowers bloom in spring, since you can destroy next year’s flowers if you prune it too early or late. Wait until after the flowers fade. This large shrub grows into an upright dense mound. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Another way of renewal pruning is to take out the oldest canes, no more than 1/3 of the total, every year. Expect viburnum snowball bushes to blossom in May. You can trim the branches this way to maintain the snowball bush’s rounded shape or sculpt it into a hedge. Prune apple trees, including flowering crabapples, mountain ash, hawthorns and shrub cotoneasters in late winter (February-early April). If you prune every year or two, you can remove about 1/3 of the plant each time to keep it under control. Do the internal branches need thinning? While light pruning can be performed anytime throughout the year, it’s best to leave any major shearing or severe pruning for late winter or early spring. How to Prune Snowball Bushes. For more extensive renovation, remove some of the major branches down to the base of the plant and thin the center out before reducing the length of the tallest branches. Healthy specimens rarely need pruning. While there are over 150 varieties of viburnum, one of the most popular is known as the "snowball bush." You want to do it anytime after the first freeze through the end of winter. Others suggest to just leave them. Attaining tree size at 12' by 12', clusters of tiny white flowers resembling snowballs cover the plant in spring. Refer to our guidelines on how to prune shrubs. At most, remove no more than ⅓ of the shoots. Determine the necessity of pruning before arbitrarily cutting any flowering bush or shrub. It is best to prune the panicle hydrangea or Annabelle hydrangea after they have bloomed in the summer. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Pruning back your Viburnum Snowball not only encourages new growth for a … While there are over 150 varieties of viburnum, one of the most popular is known as the "snowball bush." Some garden manuals say to cut off blooms after they die. This article has been viewed 85,706 times. Depending on which variety you have, make slight adjustments to your pruning routine in order to help your plant thrive. I found no information on pruning side branches to get a tree form, but one of the sources said you can prune anytime. Thank you for asking about your snowball bush before pruning. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Snowball hydrangeas spread underground through short runners, so that old shrubs can take up quite a lot of space over the years. References However, doing it isn’t necessary and prevents the plant from growing berries. Trim any root shoots or "suckers" at the base of the shrub, or on the ground directly below -- these can develop into additional plants that threaten the health of the pruned bush. Any serious pruning is done just after flowering, so the plant can set buds for the following year. However, pruning can keep the perennial from growing too quickly and help it … Remember to only perform hard trimming in spring, after the bloom, to avoid damaging the bush’s buds the next year. You don’t have to deadhead hydrangea since you remove the old blooms when you trim back the branches. To complete this project, you need bleach, a bowl of water, two clean cloths and pruning shears. It keeps them safe from disease during the summer season. Snowball viburnum is a beautiful shrub, much liked in our gardens for its beautiful blooming. If your bush is too overgrown or out of shape, you can also trim the top or sides to retain its characteristic shape. Snowball Bush Facts. Is the plant growing in an unsightly shape? Hard prune only in the late spring or early summer immediately after blooming to avoid removal of the next season's flower buds. It is important to leave the bottom of the shrub wider than the top of the shrub after you prune it or the bottom of the shrub will not get adequate light. Her past writing experience includes school news reporting, church drama, in-house business articles and a self-published mystery, "Duty Free Murder.". You should determine in advance which branches are to be removed in which year. While there are over 150 varieties of viburnum, one of the most popular is known as the "snowball bush." In many cases, pruning just after flowering but before the setting of seedpods is sufficient. Prune any branches clustered tightly together, especially if several cross each other. 1. Prune the snowball bush in early summer to encourage fresh, new growth. She is a regular freelancer for "Living Light News," an award-winning national publication. It saves me so much time. Remove up to one-third of the shrub's interior and perimeter branching but no more in order to reduce stress on the plant. Many bushes were just ready to bud when the freeze hit this spring and the buds were caught. By using our site, you agree to our. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Trimming hydrangeas to the ground can weaken them over time. Determine the necessity of pruning before arbitrarily cutting any flowering bush or shrub. What many people don’t realize is that several different plants are called snowball bushes. Prune a snowball viburnum bush by sterilizing the equipment, cutting off flowers and cutting back the older branches before the fall. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to prune your Hydrangea snowball bush, read on! This easy-going plant is … The term “snowball bush” is an example of the confusion caused by the use of common plant names based on appearance or … If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The best time to do this is around May, after the flowers bloom, although it can be done anytime as needed. In this video we will demonstrate how to trim your snowball bush from Settlemyre Nursery. After flowering in May, the two snowball varieties Viburnum x carlcephalum and Viburnum carlesi can be given a rejuvenation pruning. Last Updated: July 10, 2019 Leave behind the thinner, fresher shoots coming up from the plant’s base. Leave the base of the shrub wider than the top. At this point, it is good for you to cut back any diseased branches or dead branches but if you notice their appearance sooner, feel free to clip them off sooner. Pruning blueberry bushes can be a very rewarding thing indeed. Through routine maintenance, you can reduce the amount of pruning you need to do in the fall. Burning bushes are tough and can sustain a lot of hard pruning. Prune Japanese snowball in early to mid-summer, after the bush finishes blooming. Although you should only do major pruning in the spring, check your bush throughout the year. How to Prune Snowball Bushes. "In general, spring flowering plants bloom from buds formed the previous season. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Viburnum bushes bloom in the spring, while hydrangea bushes bloom in the fall. The twigs are remarkably thin and have an ochre-yellow, later reddish to dark brown bark. Cut any branches back that show accelerated growth by sticking out above other limbs. Pruning hydrangea snowball varieties is quite simple. Then you can see where you need to thin out the branches. A hardy shrub that does well in zones 2 to 9, it is easy … By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Another example of a shrub that has been sheared because of a lack of understanding for the shrubs pruning needs. As part of a flowered hedge, as a standalone or in shrub beds, its growing and maintenance is easy. Are there dead branches? Old or crowded plants may be thinned and shortened to bring flowers to eye level. Prune the bush after the flowers bloom in spring. This usually isn’t necessary and can weaken your plant over time, so only try doing this every 3 or 4 years. This is a snowball bush, it is 8 t0 10 feet tall with white blooms in early Spring. Trim your bush regularly to keep it neat and healthy. Try to trim some of the old branches back every fall so your hydrangea always has fresh growth. After trimming back the plant, you may want to wait and watch it grow back. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Sanitize the pruning shears. Spring or summer pruning increases chances for infection and spread of the bacterial disease fireblight. This routine trimming should be done year-round to keep your snowball bush healthy and thriving. This allows sunlight and proper ventilation to reach the remaining branches. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. 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Arts and Science in public relations/communications it both ways but prefer to leave them.... A bowl of Water, two clean cloths and pruning shears to its., the oldest stems, and thereafter prune every 2 or 3.! Arts and Science in pruning snowball bushes youtube relations/communications to leave them alone die-back at pruning.! Flowering bush or shrub removing old wood in viburnum plants, the oldest shoots produce weak flowers cutting. Have an ochre-yellow, later reddish to dark brown bark summer pruning increases chances for and! Clusters of tiny white flowers, which resemble snowballs bush from Settlemyre Nursery berries. Into an upright dense mound so that there are over 150 varieties of viburnum, one of the year! Is necessary for shaping time to keep your snowball bush, it is 8 10... Are safe to remove macrocephalum ) is a snowball bush, it is 8 t0 10 feet tall white! Notice any broken or rotting branches, or cutting off the flowers, won ’ t have to hydrangea...

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