What to expect after hard pruning a viburnum?

18 years ago

I know that most people are not big fans of pruning a viburnum for size. Neither am I... usually.

But we have just moved into a new house and I have three HUGE viburnum growing in a foundation bed in front of a side entry garage. They are so tall that the garage is totally blocked, including the windows they were planted in front of. So I think I have two options, try to move them or prune them waaaaaay back so I can at least see the windows. I would love to move them, but they are so big that I doubt I could actually do it. One has multiple trunks with a couple about 3-4" in diameter - and I just have a shovel! Also, we can't afford to buy a bunch of new appropriately-sized shrubs this year to take their spot. So now I am left with leaving them and maybe trying to prune them back.

My main question is what to expect afterwards? I will wait until after they bloom, but how will taking 2-3 feet off the top affect the shrub overall? Is there any chance that they will live to try to transplant them once we can afford to get replacements? I've left out the option of leaving them large, because if I do, I'm pretty sure my husband will take a chainsaw to them when I'm not home! :)I've never cut a large shrub way back...I am a fan of leaving them in their natural size and shape, but I need to do something.

Thanks for any input. BTW, I'm not even sure what type of viburnum it is. They are currently about 7' tall and look to be widely used in our neighborhood. That's all I know.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

jaimeg
Original Author
18 years ago
I don't know that it makes a difference, but I forgot to change my location to Zone6, Northern KY.
Thanks!
hoe_hoe_hoe
18 years ago
You might consider inquiring with a professional about the cost of having them relocated. Another option- as long as they are in an area where some yahoo couldn't do too much damage- is to advertise them "for sale, you dig". Of course, shovel doesn't hit earth until you have non-refundable cash in hand. You don't want to suffer the consequences of someone biting off more than THEY can chew. Either way this is probably the perfect time for transplanting in your zone if you act quickly.

As to the hard pruning- I'm going to leave that for someone more knowledgeable. I suspect they will live but you may be unhappy with the unnatural looking result.
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I would have guessed that caroleoh has arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). These pretty much stink in flower, and they bloom late spring/early summer here. About the only viburnums that bloom later are Viburnum nudum and its clones, which have a bit sweeter scent but not in the range of the spice girls like Viburnum carlesii and her offspring. brandon7: harryshoe may be reluctant to relate the rancorous or rancid, but I can tell you the range of smells of over 100 different species and clones that have a home here. I will not speak for him and his guests, as I don't find 'Winterthur' objectionable olfactorily. I do have a problem with Viburnum dilatatum, unfortunately, which is one of my favorites for overall performance. Reproductive fluids is as near a description as I can match it with. gardengal48's mention of old sweat socks fits nearby. I've even heard some reputable plantsmen attribute that to the odor of fallen leaves of some species. Go figure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and fragrance - well, that's a rhinoceros of a different color.
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Sorry for getting to this so late. Maybe OP is still around? For all species of multi-stemmed shrubs, the all-around best treatment is occasional to yearly renewal pruning. In this type of pruning, you select for removal the oldest, stoutest and most mature "canes", which you cut at ground level or as near to ground level as you can, without dinging up the remaining more juvenile stems. By doing so, you are favoring the more vigorous younger stems, which will help with flower/fruit production in many cases, as well as helping to keep the plant a bit more manageable. This is not easy work by any means, but it will allow an older shrub to remain youthful and vigorous more or less indefinitely. +oM
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diggingthedirt
18 years ago
While we wait for an expert, I'll give you my opinion. I have at least a dozen types of viburnums and have grown them for about 20 years - at one time I thought I would try to grow them all, but I've scaled back my plans due to lack of space and the increased number of varieties on the market.

If they are multi-stemmed, with several trunks coming out of the ground, you may have MUCH better luck removing 1/3 of the main stems to the ground instead of heading back the shrub. Trimming all stems to give a haircut is not going to be very good for your viburnums' eventual shape and is going to require at least annual repeat performances on your part. Removing 1/3 of the shrub can be done for 3 years in a row and followed up with an occasional removal of the tallest couple of branches. It should result in better shaped and more natural looking shrubs.

By cutting some stems to the ground, you'll be encouraging the new growth to appear at the base of the plant, not at the top, and you won't have to worry that you may be removing all of next year's potential flowering stems.
Also, with this treatment, you may even find that these shrubs perform well enough that you may want to keep them - right where they are.
jaimeg
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you so much about the idea of removing 1/3 of the stems to the ground. I've done that with my spirea forever to keep them in line...I didn't even think about for these viburnum! I think that is the way I am going to go this year and see what happens. Maybe their flowers will win me over and I'll end up leaving them in their spot (I'll have to hide the chainsaw from my husband, though!)
Thanks again!
If the pruning doesn't work, I may try the "free shrubs...if you dig!" sign!

What to expect after hard pruning a viburnum?

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jaimeg
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What to expect after hard pruning a viburnum?

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