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Pruning viburnum is intended to make it more decorative, because in nature this crop can most often be found in a tall form. There are several types of pruning, each of which has a specific purpose and timing.
Is it possible to cut viburnum
Despite the fact that viburnum was originally a wild crop, today it can be found in garden plots and local areas. The “wild” origin of viburnum makes itself felt through the constant formation of basal shoots and active thickening of the branches.
The wilding of the crop leads to shading of the lower tier, intertwining of lateral branches and clogging of the bush with uncontrolled basal shoots. As a result of lack of lighting, ventilation and high humidity, a comfortable environment for the development of fungal and bacterial diseases occurs.
It is necessary to prune viburnum not only in order to give it an aesthetic appearance and protect it from fungal attack, but also in order to preserve the future harvest.
Proper care will extend the life of viburnum to 25 years
When to prune viburnum
Pruning of the common viburnum can be done in autumn, spring and summer, but it is still preferable to form the bush in autumn. The fact is that during this period the sap flow stops, the leaves fall off and the crop begins to prepare for wintering. In the fall, sanitary pruning is carried out, during which diseased, dried and damaged branches are cut off.
Too intense growth of the common viburnum can lead to freezing in the cold season, so on the eve of winter you should not prune the bush too much.
In spring, a formative and rejuvenating procedure is carried out. In the first four years, when the crop grows most intensively, it is imperative to prune the viburnum. Subsequently, it is enough to maintain the aesthetic condition of the green crown.
Is it possible to prune viburnum in summer?
Many novice gardeners are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to trim the common viburnum in the summer. This period is suitable for thinning the crown and getting rid of thickened areas that may contain aphids and other pests.
Rules and schemes for pruning viburnum
The types of pruning of viburnum depend not only on the variety, but also on the age of the plant. So, the seedling must be given time to adapt and take root successfully. On average this period is two years. During this period, young shoots are only pinched, and full formative pruning is carried out in the third year.
For adult viburnum bushes, thinning and rejuvenating shaping is organized. Be sure to remove branches growing inward, vertically, crosswise, as well as second-order shoots.
Also, all stems are regularly shortened to the same length and the lower basal shoots are cut off. This allows you to maintain the aesthetic shape of the bush.
When planting a young seedling in the fall, it is necessary to cut off almost all of its shoots, leaving a couple of buds directly above the ground. The stems that sprouted next year are pinched at the top level, leaving a length of no more than 30 cm.
Viburnum viburnum bears fruit on annual growths
All root shoots must be cut out, but the strongest shoots are left and shortened by about a third. This stimulates lateral branching and allows you to give the viburnum bush the desired shape. This procedure is carried out annually.
In addition to the growth of side branches, it is also necessary to control the main central shoots. To do this, they are allowed to reach the desired length, after which they are limited in growth, that is, they are pruned.
The autumn formation algorithm is the following sequence of actions:
- Remove weak branches that cannot withstand the weight of snow.
- Trim dried shoots.
- When forming, make the cut directly above the bud so that it is directed “away from the bush”.
- Trim the broken branch to a stump.
- All cuts larger than 1 cm must be treated - covered with garden varnish.
There is nothing complicated about cutting the common viburnum. Even a novice gardener can carry out this procedure.
What tools and materials will be needed
Before work, you need to prepare special cutting tools. This could be a saw, lopper or pruner.Each gardener decides for himself what is more convenient. It is desirable that the blade of the knives be made of high-quality steel. This will protect the instrument from premature rust.
Before starting the procedure, instruments must be sharpened well and treated with alcohol for additional disinfection. To protect the cuts, use a special putty or garden varnish.
How to prune a viburnum bush
There are several varieties of pruning viburnum. The choice of the optimal type of shaping depends on the variety, purpose and time of year.
Sanitary pruning
Sanitary pruning is carried out after harvesting. To do this, remove the following types of branches:
- broken;
- affected by diseases;
- dried out;
- not fallen bunches of berries.
During the autumn formation, you should not remove too many branches, otherwise this will lead to a decrease in frost resistance.
Thinning pruning
In summer, viburnum is trimmed to prevent thickening of the branches. The best time for the procedure is the moment after the leaves appear, when the ovaries of future inflorescences have not yet formed.
To carry out pruning, you need to carefully examine the bush, find all thickened areas and remove excess branches. First of all, shoots that grow inward and upward are pruned. Branches that are too close to each other are also removed.
Rejuvenating pruning of old viburnum
The lack of regular formation affects not only the appearance of the common viburnum, but also its fruiting. Developmental delays can be observed in the sixth year. Pruning viburnum in the fall is aimed at rejuvenating the crop.
Overgrown branches are gradually removed by cutting them down to the root with a garden saw. About one or two old branches are cut off per year, no more.This procedure allows you to rejuvenate the bush and stimulate future harvests.
With proper pruning, old growth will be replaced by strong young growth
The average rejuvenation period is two to three years. During this period, the viburnum bush will be able to completely renew itself.
In some cases, it is impossible to rejuvenate viburnum. If there are too small fruits on the bushes for two years, this indicates that the plant is already more than 25 years old, so there is no point in carrying out anti-aging pruning. In this case, it is more expedient to uproot the culture.
When forming the common viburnum in the form of a tree, the entire trunk is cut down, leaving several shoots of basal shoots, after which it is re-grown and formed into a culture.
Formation in the form of a bush
The main task when pruning in the form of a bush is to preserve the splendor and multi-stemmed nature of the crop. Common viburnum is convenient in terms of shaping. A pruner will be enough to give the plant the desired shape.
When bush pruning, the lower tier of branches is cut out, then the wilted inflorescences. Shoots whose growth is directed inward or upward are completely removed. In this case, the cuts should be located above the nodes from which flowers should appear next year.
When a “bald patch” is discovered in a bush, a branch is found growing in the direction of this “hole”, after which it is cut so that the growth of the bud is directed towards the empty space. Next year, after a new shoot appears, this defect will be eliminated.
Pruning viburnum and forming it into a bush involves regular removal of root shoots. Of the central shoots, seven or eight of the strongest ones are left, after which the growth of the lateral branches is directed. They are cut annually to the required length.This forming method is optimal for fruit-bearing crops.
Shaping as a tree
When forming into a tree, the root shoots must be removed almost completely. The central trunk is left, and the crown is given the desired shape over time. Most often it is round. The tree shape is more decorative. In addition, thanks to it, common viburnum takes up much less space on the site.
In some cases, especially with an abundant harvest and foliage, the crown can be so heavy that it will damage the trunk. The problem is solved by installing additional supports.
The yield of viburnum in the form of a tree is lower than that of a crop pruned in the form of a bush
Care after pruning
After the shaping procedure, it is necessary to treat all fresh sections with a solution of copper sulfate and allow them to dry thoroughly. Only after this can they be “closed” with garden varnish.
When pruning viburnum in dry and hot weather, the crop must be well watered, since the shaping procedure is stressful for the plant.
Conclusion
Pruning viburnum is a very simple and common procedure aimed at creating a decorative appearance and preserving the quality of the crop. It must be done regularly. Only in this case will the bush or tree delight the owner with lush blossoms and healthy berries.
