An evergreen viburnum like Viburnum tinus looks good all year round. But is a topiary urgently necessary or can this shrub cope without having to use secateurs?
Do you have to prune Viburnum tinus?
Topiary pruning is not necessary for Viburnum tinus as the shrub naturally has a compact growth habit. Interfering shoots can be removed in spring to early summer. Severe pruning to promote growth is possible every 4 years, but not too radically to avoid flower loss.
Topiary cutting – not necessary
Basically, it is not necessary to cut this snowball. It has naturally perfect growth. The growth habit is rounded and compact. Furthermore, there is usually no need for topiary pruning because this plant grows extremely slowly. If perfection is important to you, you may want to trim the shrub lightly every 2 years.
Remove disturbing shoots if necessary
If you notice any annoying shoots on Viburnum tinus, you can of course remove them. The plant can tolerate this. However, you should note that the secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon) are sharp and clean. The ideal time for cutting is spring to early summer. Then the flowering time is over.
Mediterranean viburnum plant parts should be removed if they exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:
- too old
- frozen in winter
- sick and incurable
- blooming lazy
- shooting out of the top of the bush
- standing too close
- dried up
- standing sideways
Pruning is tolerated without complaint
This snowball can also tolerate severe pruning. This can, among other things, promote its growth. It is carried out around June, as long as there are no new shoots yet. It may become necessary approximately every 4 years.
Old wood is cut away close to the ground. Shoots that are too long are shortened and overgrown shoots that interfere with each other are corrected. But be careful: don't cut too radically! Otherwise, flower failure can occur because the flowers arise on the new shoots.
Using the scissors to multiply
Pruning can be useful not only for caring for this evergreen shrub. It can also be appropriate to propagate the poisonous plant:
- Gain cuttings
- from summer to October
- use woody parts
- approx. 10 cm long
- root best at 20 to 30 °C
Tip
If you have obtained cuttings, you should definitely protect them in the first winter. They can't be planted out until next summer.
