Remove water spouts, or suckers, from around the base of the snowball bush as they occur throughout the year. Prune out any diseased, damaged or dead shoots using long-handled loppers or a saw if necessary And finally, thin out crowded shoots and any badly positioned ones that spoil the shrub’s appearance Thin out old and weak limbs by cutting them at ground level with hand pruners or lopping shears. Remove damaged, dead or diseased limbs with lopping shears or hand pruners. Discard the pruned flower heads into a compost bin. Viburnum opulus and Viburnum lantana - if they need pruning at all - can be kept under control, by cutting out 1 in 3 branches at near to ground level. Growing Snowball from stem cuttings To propagate cuttings take softwood cuttings from fully grown snowball trees, do this early in the morning. Noteworthy Characteristics Viburnum opulus , commonly called European cranberry bush, is a highbush cranberry that is native to Europe, Asia and N. Africa. Pruning Cranberry Viburnum Should I prune my dwarf cranberrybush viburnum? Shape and thin as needed but, keep in mind that you are removing this autumn's fruit. You can prune European cranberry bushes immediately after flowering, which will decrease the number of berries, or after the fruit falls from the bush in early winter. How to Trim Lilac, Rose of Sharon and Forsythia Bushes, Missouri Botanical Garden: Viburnum Opulus 'Roseum', Maryland Cooperative Extension: Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Disinfecting Pruning Tools, How to Prune Knockout Roses After Budding. Trim any elongated or drooping limbs that spoil the shape of the shrub with lopping shears or hand pruners. With young shrubs, you can guide their growth by choosing an attractive upright stem and then pinching out some side shoots to create a balanced, open plant. Cut them back to their point of origin. It grows well within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 8, where it will reach a mature height of 8 to 12 feet with a 15-foot spread. During the year, remove any … If you like pruning, then when the flowers are finished at … Cut these limbs back to the first bud or joint within the main part of the foliage. This increases air circulation and encourages new growth. Prune limbs that are rubbing or crossed with hand pruners or lopping shears to prevent future damage to involved limbs. European cranberry bushes have an upright form, but larger varieties tend to spread with age. How and when should I prune viburnum opulus, guelder Rose? However, they perform best with occasional pruning to improve their shape and foliage production. Prune the snowball bush in early summer to encourage fresh, new growth. Space the cuts evenly across the width of the viburnum. Melody Lee holds a degree in landscape design, is a Florida Master Gardener, and has more than 30 years of gardening experience. Make cuts at a 30-degree angle at a bud or joint. Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' - Common Snowball is a large deciduous specimen shrub that blooms heavily in the Spring. How to prune viburnum Make the cuts perpendicular to the branch. Samantha McMullen began writing professionally in 2001. It isn’t really necessary to prune it except if it grows too large. Viburnum opulus 'Notcutt' Aka V. opulus 'Notcutt's Variety'. Soak a pair of sharp, sturdy pruning shears in the solution for approximately five minutes to sanitize them. Make cuts at a … They can be deciduous, evergreen or semi-evergreen, depending on species. Blooms midspring, bearing lace-cap flowers to 4 inches across. Varieties of the European cranberry bushes have a better taste than the species. Use a clean saw to remove the older branches if the pruning shears are too small. Noteworthy Characteristics Viburnum opulus , commonly called European cranberry bush, is a highbush cranberry that is native to Europe, Asia and N. Africa. Dwarf varieties grow 1 to 3 feet tall, compact varieties grow 5 to 6 feet tall, and large varieties grow 10 to 13 feet tall. Cut the branches back 1 inch above a fork in the lead branches to preserve the shrub's natural shape. When to Prune Viburnum 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. 10 Oct, 2012 Answers Seaburngirl I used to have one and never really sussed it out so I resorted to pruning out a 1/3 every year in the spring. European cranberry bushes have an upright form, but larger varieties tend to spread with age. Prevent the appearance of new water spouts by waiting until late summer to prune. Wait until after the flowers fade. Similar to the species but coarser, heavier branching, giving it a "masculine" look during the winter months. Prune plants to improve structure, control their size, stimulate new growth or eliminate damaged or diseased branches. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Producing masses of large long lasting white ‘snowball’ flowers in spring, V. opulus ‘roseum’ is a showy plant and like the species has nice autumn foliage to go with it. Commonly called snowball bush, Viburnum opulus "Roseum" is a deciduous shrub cultivar prized for its round, white flower clusters and spreading growth habit. This is Secret Garden content Check for dead or damaged branches and remove them as well. Snowball bushes are adaptable and will thrive with little hands-on care or upkeep. Shred and compost healthy green trimmings. Prune off the flower heads once the individual blossoms fade from pale pink to a dirty, light beige color. Otherwise, pruning viburnum is a chore you tackle at specific times in the life of the plant. [1] X Research source Deadheading, or cutting off the flowers, won’t harm viburnum. Remove debris from around shrubs. You can easily satisfy your desires because seven different viburnum shrubs go by the name snowball bush. Wait until after the flowers fade. 'Roseum', is probably one of the most common ones. Rinse them well and let them air dry before use. Do this each year, always cutting out the older branches of course, and you will have a steady supply of … Measure out 1 part bleach and 3 parts water in a bucket. For best results grow Viburnum opulus in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to full shade. Cut off the branches at the base and discard the pruned branch into a green waste can rather than into a compost heap. Shred and compost healthy green trimmings. The berries of the species European cranberry bushes are edible, but have a bitter, acidic taste. Wait for the blooming of the guelder-rose to end if you wish to reduce or reshape the shrub. All Rights Reserved. Clean your pruning shears carefully afterward to prevent the spread of disease. Prune the snowball bush in early summer to encourage fresh, new growth. When And How To Prune Viburnum Shrubs And Bushes Posted by Brent Wilson on 8/31/2016 to Pruning Tips Viburnums do not require pruning, however, plants can be pruned for shaping purposes, to remove damaged or dead branches, and many taller growers can be pruned to form a very attractive single- or multi-trunk small tree. Snip the stem off 1/4 inch above a pair of leaves. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! They are used as specimens, in groups and in hedges. Some varieties have yellow berries. Attaining tree size at 12' by 12', clusters of tiny white flowers resembling snowballs cover the plant in spring. If you prune … Viburnums are really tough plants. Use clean, sharp secateurs and place all cuts at least a quarter inch above a leaf node or bud. Of course, much of viburnum pruning depends on the variety grown too. Growing as wide as tall, maturing at 10'. Fruit is similar to that of Viburnum opulus but is used for preserves and jellies. Avoid planting extremely hot droughty or dry exposed, cold Pruning in March The winter snowball and the Guelder rose differ from other Viburnum varieties. Thin out the center of the snowball bush to improve air circulation among the branches. However, doing it isn’t necessary and prevents the plant from growing berries. Red berries follow in early fall. Use hedge pruners to shear bushes that are part of a hedge. The European cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus) is a deciduous multi-stem shrub. Viburnum Opulus or Snowball Viburnum Another trendy bush, snowball viburnum is easy to manage and grows into a dense mound. Use hand pruners for limbs up to ½ inch in diameter and lopping shears for larger limbs. Expect viburnum snowball bushes to blossom in May. While there are over 150 varieties of viburnum, one of the most popular is known as the "snowball bush." Leaves look much like those of Viburnum opulus; they emerge reddish tinged, mature to dark green, turn yellow to red-purple in fall. Cut back the entire snowball bush to within 6 inches of the ground if it begins to look scraggly or unappealing with age. You may also like to prune your viburnum to improve its shape, or if you are creating a hedge. Can't get enough of the gorgeous snowball bush? Find our advice on pruning shrubs. European cranberry bushes have an upright form, but larger varieties tend to spread with age. Snip off side shoots with a diameter less than 1/4 inch at their point of origin along the lead branches. Viburnum, includes Highbush Cranberry (Opulus and Sub S. Triloba), Nannyberry, Blackhaw, Doublefile, Korean Spice, Juddi, Arrowwood and Wayfaring Tree. Destroy diseased and dead trimmings to prevent the spread of infection. Note that blooming only occurs on growth from the previous year. Prune as needed immediately after flowering. European cranberry bushes bloom in late spring to early summer with white flowers. The 7.6cm flower clusters are apple-green when they start and then change to white. You might read that they need a lot of moisture, but in my experience and over the last few years of drought, they have done well with little water and mulch over the roots. When pruning any evergreen shrub (except old, overgrown shrubs, see below), aim to remove about one-third of older wood in total. Varieties of the European cranberry bushes have a better taste than the species. It is often used as hedging or specimen plantings and can be formed into tree form by topiary pruning. 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