It is quite lovely as a little tree, with the Fairy Rose growing next to it, as well as azaleas, ferns and artemesia. The best time to do this is in late winter or early spring. However, if pruning is desired for size or shape control, shear or trim these bushes after flowering. Tree Plants & Seeds; Everything Else Store See All 17 Departments. It is often used as hedging or specimen plantings and can be formed into tree form by topiary pruning. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/difference-between-snowball-bush-hydrangea-52472.html, https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-prune-viburnums/, https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/flowering-shrub-chinese-snowball-viburnum, https://ask.extension.org/questions/320239, https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=168, https://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/shrubs/what-is-the-best-way-to-care-for-a-snowball-hydrangea-that-survived-winter-but-did-not-flower-in-the-summer/, http://ucanr.edu/datastoreFiles/268-86.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. However, if pruning is desired for size or shape control, shear or trim these bushes after flowering. Blooming on both old and new wood , this Viburnum withstands tough conditions and outlasts the competition. Topping out at 15 feet (4.57 m.), Japanese snowball trees might better be termed shrubs. Use clean, sharp secateurs and place all cuts at least a quarter inch above a leaf node or bud. If you’re in the Northern hemisphere, it’s quite normal then that it would be losing its leaves. It's also called the Chinese snowball tree. Missouri Botanical Garden: Viburnum Plicatum, University of California Cooperative Extension, Mariposa County: Pruning Flowering Shrubs, Cobb County Extension Service: Snowball Bush, University of California Cooperative Extension Service: Pruning Trees and Shrubs, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Pruning Shrubs, How to Prune a Rose of Sharon Bush to Create a Rose of Sharon Tree, How to Prune Citrus Trees Indoors and Keep Them Small. How to Prune Snowball Viburnum Pruning Viburnum isn’t necessary. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8a. You can cut snowball hydrangeas to the ground every year. The Japanese Snowbell tree is an exquisite flowering tree with soft-spoken charms and a trouble-free nature. Snowball bushes are known for the puffy, white flowers that bloom on them year after year. Light pruning(12 inches or less) after flowering but not after July 10th (Early spring – February – and autumn pruning removes next year’s blossoms). By maintaining the bush regularly, you likely won’t need to do this. The fragrant flowers bloom in the hundreds and provide endless visual appeal for your landscape. Viburnum bushes bloom in the spring, while hydrangea bushes bloom in the fall. It is the official state flower of the US state of Alabama.There are thousands of cultivars of C. japonica in cultivation, with many colors and forms of flowers. Keep reading to learn more Japanese snowbell information, such as planting Japanese snowbell trees and subsequent Japanese snowbell care. Lovely, bell-shaped fragrant white flowers hang from strongly horizontal side branches that make a splendid broad round crowned tree for patio or near a pathway. Prune annually to shape in late winter to early spring. You don’t have to deadhead hydrangea since you remove the old blooms when you trim back the branches. Others suggest to just leave them. If your bush is large and overgrown … Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Some branches did not have blooms this year. Think about the weeping canopy part of the tree as a snow ball. Wear long sleeves, pants and shoes when pruning to avoid scratches from the branches. Try to trim some of the old branches back every fall so your hydrangea always has fresh growth. What many people don’t realize is that several different plants are called snowball bushes. Lovely, lightly scented white flowers hang from a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with strongly horizontal side branches. In temperate climates, Japanese snowball loses its leaves in fall since it is a deciduous shrub. It needs rich, well-drained acidic soil, full sun or part shade, and protection from strong wind. She enthusiastically pursues creative and community interests, including gardening, home improvement and social issues. Q. Viburnum bushes are at least 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, typically taller than hydrangea bushes, and produce larger flowers. Hydrangea blossoms stay on the plant for about 2 months, longer than viburnum blooms. Mature Viburnum can be thinned out to improve their shape. Summary: Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonica) is a tree which can be grown as a small shrub or tree for interesting spring flowers as well as a good screening tree. Learning the proper time and technique for pruning a Redbud tree is important to the health of the tree and the shape of it. Genus Viburnum can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with opposite, simple or palmately lobed leaves and clusters of small, often fragrant white or pink flowers, followed by red, blue or black berries . Details 'Mariesii' is a large deciduous shrub with wide-spreading, tiered branches and prominently veined, dark green, ovate leaves, purple in autumn. Rejuvenation pruning can be performed on old, overgrown plants. Add a 3-inch layer of mulch to help maintain a consistent moisture level in the soil. Prune and remove any dead branches, using anvil pruners for branches under five-eighths inch and loppers for branches up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Plants Remarks JANUARY Shade Trees: oak, hickory, beech, black gum, poplar, sycamore, ginkgo, etc. Put on gloves and safety glasses to protect your hands, skin and eyes. What many people don't realize is that several different plants are called snowball bushes. If your bush is too overgrown or out of shape, you can also trim the top or sides to retain its characteristic shape. Prune to shape the tree’s growth with sharp pruning shears. If you are using a ladder to reach the upper branches, have a helper assist you by steadying the ladder and handing you tools. With degrees in fine and commercial art and Spanish, Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist, book designer and published author. However, overgrown azaleas … Best grown in organically rich, acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. The Japanese Snowbell is simple, compact and manageable. The winter of 2009/2010 was colder than usual, but Snowy is … She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. It's a fairly small, compact tree with small white and pink flowers in the spring and dark green foliage through the summer. It is better to take cuttings between November and February, Summer in Australia. Expect viburnum snowball bushes to blossom in May. It is … Pruning requirements are practically non-existent. Best grown in organically rich, acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Q. Once established, maintain evenly moist soil; will not thrive in dry conditions. About Japanese Snowball Trees. Use clean, sharp secateurs and place all cuts at least a quarter inch above a leaf node or bud. Do I need to cut them back? The colour changes from lime green to a beautiful creamy white and it's one of the most spectacular shrubs for a garden. It's a mystery to us why it hasn't caught on with the general public! Trim your bush regularly to keep it neat and healthy. However, doing it isn’t necessary and prevents the plant from growing berries. The shrub's flowers, fall color, multiple stems and interesting winter branch pattern make it a year-round focal point in the garden. Japanese Snowball Tree Easy-growing yet super elegant, the Japanese Snowball Bush is known for its full white blooms and vibrant green foliage that welcome spring. It's also called the Chinese snowball tree. By using our site, you agree to our. * (Bleeder trees include: birch, dogwood, elm, maple, & styrax) Prune undesired and storm damaged limbs. Read on for more Japanese snowball information, including how to plant a Japanese snowball tree. Prune annually to shape in late winter to early spring.Pruning time: late winter or early spring. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you don't feel comfortable with doing this, contacting a certified arborist may be the way to go. This tree's branches grow horizontally so give it room to spread. After trimming back the plant, you may want to wait and watch it grow back. Prune a snowball viburnum bush by sterilizing the equipment, cutting off flowers and cutting back the older branches before the fall. You don't have to worry about a huge tree that overpowers your yard. People ask about trimming or pruning Japanese maples fairly often and the short answer is yes, you should prune your Japanese maples. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/31\/Prune-a-Snowball-Bush-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-a-Snowball-Bush-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/31\/Prune-a-Snowball-Bush-Step-1.jpg\/aid10077733-v4-728px-Prune-a-Snowball-Bush-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"