Commonly referred to as snowball bush, Viburnum opulus “Roseum” is a deciduous shrub cultivar precious for its round, white flower clusters and spreading growth habit. It grows well within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 8, in which it can reach a rise of 8 to 12 feet with a 15-foot spread. Snowball bushes are flexible and will thrive with small hands or maintenance. But they perform best with occasional pruning to improve their form and foliage production.
Step out 1 part bleach and 3 parts water in a bucket. Soak a set of sharp, sturdy pruning shears in the way of approximately five minutes to sanitize them. Wash them well and let them air dry prior to use.
Prune the snowball bush in early summer to promote new, new growth. Wait until after the flowers fade. Cut back the oldest stems to ground level, in addition to any stems with a diameter less than 1/4 inch. Use a tidy saw to remove the old branches if the pruning shears are too tiny.
Prune off the flower heads once the individual blossoms fade from pale pink to your dirty, light beige color. Snip off the stem 1/4 inch above a set of leaves. Discard the pruned blossom heads into a compost bin.
Thin out the center of this snowball bush to improve air flow among the branches. Snip off side shoots with a diameter less than 1/4 inch at their point of origin across the lead branches. Make the cuts perpendicular to the division.
Remove water spouts, or suckers, from round the base of this snowball bush as they happen throughout the year. Cut them back to their point of origin. Avoid the appearance of fresh water spouts by waiting until late summer to prune.
Eliminate all dead or damaged branches as they appear during this year. Cut the branches off at the underside and discard the pruned branch into a green waste may rather than into a compost heap. Clean your pruning shears carefully afterward to prevent the spread of infection.
Cut back the entire snowball bush to within 6 inches of the ground if it starts to look scraggly or unappealing with age. Cut the branches back 1 inch above a fork at the direct branches to preserve the tree’s natural form. Perform this kind of pruning no longer than once every five years.