pruning Viburnum juddii

9 years ago

We have some Viburnum juddii that were planted by a previous homeowner that are getting a little out of control. Over the past two years I've done light pruning to keep them back and shaped, but the shrubs are getting too big for the space they occupy and are starting to grow up against the house and overtake some neighboring shrubs.

In reading about Viburnum it sounds like most people don't really prune, assuming the shrub is planted appropriately. Since ours were planted without sufficient space, I've had to prune, which I think has made the problem worse and caused branches to split off and get a bit messy.

I'm attaching some photos of what two of the plants currently look like and was wondering if anyone had any pruning advice. Should I just keep cutting them back to the size I want or should I take more drastic actions and do some restorative pruning to get them small again? Perhaps cutting them back to their main stems of 3 feet or so?

All the shrubs are very healthy, just way too big. I know that if I cut them back I'll likely lose any flowering the next season.

This first photo is actually two plants. These are in our back yard. I have another row of 4 plants in the front that are having the same overgrowth issue.

The following photos are the base of the two plants in the above photo.

Featured Answer

laceyvail 6A, WV

9 years ago

Wrong plant (too big) for the spot. If it were me, I'd remove it and replace with something better suited. The only other thing you could do--and I don't think it would really look good--is try to prune to a multi-stemmed tree shape. It still would grow over that window.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
bazinga.. agree ..

look at what grew.. since last years trim ... those stragglers up high.. look like they grew 2 foot this year ... grab one.. and track back to see where it was pruned before ...

with that annual growth rate ... you are going to be hard pressed to keep it tamed ... you can try ... you wont kill it.. just go to town on it.. and with no insult to the root mass.. dont be surprised if in 2 years.. its the same size ...

probably another example of a homeowner planting a plant.. in a space.. for the size it was when bought .. with no real concept of its vast potential ...

get rid of it.. unless you just want to learn how to prune ...

ken
Dan thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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Dan
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the feedback - you both basically confirm what I've read about the size of these plants. I really don't know what the previous owners were thinking. We have other poorly placed trees, shrubs as well - a definite pattern of wrong plant for the wrong space.

I've got more of these in the front of the house that are encroaching on other plants and blocking windows, etc.

Sounds like I may have a busy spring ahead of me!

Thanks for the comments and feedback!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
You certainly don't need to "get rid of it" - just relocate to a better location!! Viburnum juddii is one my favorite of all the many viburnums for its intensely fragrant flowers but it does get to be a big shrub - 8'x10' is not at all uncommon. Most shrubs will transplant relatively easily with a little effort and elbow grease. Depending on your location, I'd consider attempting to do so this fall - now would be an nearly ideal time in most parts of the country. That way, they would have the winter to re-establish and put out their normal flower show in spring.
Dan
Original Author
9 years ago
We have a very small yard, so there's limited options on relocating them. We're in the city, so our front yard is basically a 6 foot space between the house and sidewalk, and our back yard is probably 50x50 and full of other huge shrubs that are probably too big for their planting spot.

I may give a few of these some serious pruning and see what they do come springtime - will buy me some time to decide what to do with them.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
Pruning now will reduce or eliminate the flowering. These plants bloom on at least second year growth, so you would want to prune immediately after flowering to maximize the flowering potential. If pruned now, they are unlikely to be as appealing in terms of flowers and fragrance come spring.