An evergreen viburnum like Viburnum tinus looks good all year round. But is a topiary urgently needed for this, or can this shrub get by without getting acquainted with the secateurs?

Viburnum tinus does not need a topiary

Shape cutting - not necessary

Basically, it is not necessary to cut this snowball. It has a naturally perfect growth habit. The growth habit is rounded and compact. Furthermore, a topiary is usually not necessary because this plant grows extremely slowly. If perfection is important to you, you can trim the shrub slightly into shape every 2 years if necessary.

Remove disturbing shoots if necessary

If you notice disturbing shoots on Viburnum tinus, you can of course remove them. The plant tolerates this. However, you should note that the pruning shears are sharp and clean. The ideal time for cutting is in spring to early summer. Then the heyday is over.

Plant parts from Mediterranean snowball should be removed if they show one or more of the following characteristics:

  • too old
  • frozen in winter
  • sick and incurable
  • lazy
  • shooting out of the bush at the top
  • standing too close
  • dried up
  • standing across

Pruning is tolerated without complaint

This snowball also tolerates a stronger pruning. This can, among other things, promote its growth. It is carried out around June, as long as there are no new shoots. It may become necessary about 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 beware: Don't cut too radically! Otherwise there may be a loss of flowers, because the flowers appear on the new shoots.

Use the scissors to multiply

A cut can be useful not only for the care of this evergreen shrub. It can also be appropriate to increase the poisonous growth:

  • gain cuttings
  • from summer to October
  • use woody parts
  • about 10 cm long
  • root best at 20 to 30 °C

tips

If you have gained cuttings, you should definitely protect them in the first winter. They can only be planted out next summer.

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