My viburnum is beautiful this year with large, white snowballs. My lilacs--so-so.
Anyway, when is the best time to prune them and how to I prune to cut back on height?
Today's Photo
Tip of the Week: Time to divide iris
Featured Gardener
Best time to prune lilacs and viburnum
Submitted by melliemoo on May 12, 2008 - 8:09pm.
Shrubs & Evergreens | login or register to post comments
Shrubs & Evergreens | login or register to post comments
I guess it's a matter of personal preference, and if pruning viburnums gives the shape and form you like, that's fine. I love viburnums for their three-season (sometimes four) interest and low maintenance. Sure, prune to keep it looking tidy, but I wouldn't regularly prune this plant.
Michael Dirr's recent book, "Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season" has one page on pruning, and the line that jumped out at me was "Pruning viburnums should be an exercise in restraint...again, as with so many things, less is more."
There are so many different viburnum species and cultivars. Some have leggy growing habits and some more compact and tidy habits. They should be selected for their ability to fit the space you have for them, if possible. Most get pretty large, and there are only a few that will mature under five feet high and wide. The wrong viburnum in the wrong place just means you have to keep pruning it to contain its size, and that kind of defeats the purpose of a "low maintenance" shrub.
The other commenter is correct; the best time to prune flowering shrubs is after they flower.
I have attached a link to an online publication which you can read to acquaint you with more information about pruning. You can also get a copy by calling the hotline, 913-715-7050 and request a hardcopy.
Miles
Johnson County Extension Master Gardener
As flowering shrubs go, viburnums are not quite like lilacs because they also bear attractive fruit that attracts birds later in the season. I attended a talk by a large viburnum grower last March, and this question came up -- when do we prune? His answer was "not very often, if at all". If you need to prune a viburnum to contain its size or tidy it up, be aware that doing so will sacrifice its fall fruit. This is why I love viburnums so much -- they don't demand pruning!
Thank you! I don't remember seeing any fruit on my shrub. Now I'm wondering if it is a viburnum. It has large, white flowers that look like snowballs. I like the height but my husband is a pruner so I'm trying to persuade him to let it be.
The best time to prune them will be after the flower.
User login
Featured Stories
I have many different viburnum's. My Snowball (10'wide x 12' tall)is currently covered in flowers, the berries are starting to develop.
I wonder if yours doesn't "fruit" because there is not a pollinator?
I have trimmed them like crazy since buying the property. I believe it not only has provided a better healthier shape, it has increased the quanity of blooms.
My "Spice" one did very well this year, bloom wise. If you allow them to grow & grow, as the previous homeowner did. They don't produce as many flowers, they also get very "spindley" (is that a real word? LOL)