The ornamental tree with the aptly named snowball enriches the garden with fragrant flower balls and decorative foliage. Thanks to its diverse biodiversity, the enchanting viburnum genus will not leave any gardener empty-handed. How good that the multifaceted shrubs pull together in terms of plants and care. Unanswered questions about flourishing cultivation receive well-founded answers here.

Snow-white or soft pink: the snowball blossoms are truly reminiscent of pure snow

Plant snowballs properly

Fall or spring is the time to plant a viburnum. To do this, dig a planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball. Put the excavated soil in a wheelbarrow to mix in compost, leaf mold or horn shavings (€32.93). Meanwhile, the snowball is not idle, but absorbs enough water in a bucket until no more air bubbles rise. Only then do you pot the young wood to plant it in the middle. Please make sure that the root neck is not covered with soil. Press the soil firmly with your hands, water generously and mulch with leaves or bark mulch.

care tips

With this care program you meet the requirements of the numerous varieties within the wide range of Viburnum genus:

  • Keep the soil constantly slightly moist
  • Fertilize organically or liquid every 2-3 weeks during the growth and flowering period
  • Preferably give a phosphate-rich fertilizer to promote flowering
  • Slight pruning immediately after flowering and thin out thoroughly

A light winter protection is advisable by covering the root disc with leaves, brushwood, bark mulch or straw. Young trees get a cover made of air-permeable fleece. On planters, a cover made of knobbed foil or jute ribbons and a wooden foot keep the frost away from the root ball.
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Which location is suitable?

Most snowball species and varieties prefer a sunny and sheltered location. Specialists are available for low-light locations, such as the native Viburnum opulus. There is agreement among ornamental shrubs that they do not like to be tousled by strong winds. The space in a wind lock also entails considerable problems in winter.
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The right planting distance

Adjust the planting distance to the expected growth height and width. Some of the most beautiful viburnum shrubs grow as wide as they are high, such as the hybrid 'Eskimo' at 150 cm or the mighty 'Roseum' at 400 cm. Since an annual shape and maintenance cut is not always obligatory, it has proven useful in practice to set half the growth width as the minimum distance.

What soil does the plant need?

A viburnum thrives in any good garden soil that is nutritious, humus-rich and well-drained. In addition, the ornamental tree feels good when it can stretch out its roots in fresh, moist soil that is not threatened by waterlogging.

When is flowering time?

The snowball presents us with a wide variety of species and varieties with individual flowering times. With the help of a clever combination, the pink-white flowers adorn the garden all year round. The following examples may serve as your inspiration:

  • Winter snowball (Viburnum bodnantense): flowering period from October to March
  • Spring viburnum (Viburnum burkwoodii): flowering period from March to April
  • Woolly viburnum (Viburnum lantana): flowering period from May to June
  • American Snowball (Viburnum nudum): flowering period from June/July to August/September

So that the red and black berries continue to thrive, do not cut off withered flowers. The birds in the garden will thank you.
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Cut the snowball correctly

Cut back ornamental trees immediately after flowering. At least the withered flowers are cut off together with the stalk. The extent to which you also shorten the branches depends on your personal decision and the cultivated variety. In any case, the shrub is thinned out by cutting dead wood and stunted shoots at the base. Beginning with the fourth year, remove 3-4 of the oldest branches every 2 years as part of a permanent rejuvenation measure. However, if you have decided to let the decorative berries sprout, this date will be postponed accordingly.
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pour snowball

Since Viburnum, as shallow roots, prefer fresh, moist soil, adjust the water balance to your needs. If the soil has dried, water generously until no more moisture is absorbed. With the next watering, wait until the thumb test indicates dried substrate again. In the warm season and in full bloom and foliage, you will go to your snowball much more often than in winter.

Fertilize snowball properly

On shrubs in the nutrient-rich garden soil, a monthly fertilization with leaf compost, horn shavings (€32.93) or horse manure covers the need. In the bucket, we recommend a phosphorus-rich liquid fertilizer, which you administer during the growth and flowering period according to the manufacturer's dosage instructions. Please note that during the growth dormancy of a viburnum bush there is no nutrient supply.
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pests

You will rarely have to complain about a pest infestation on Viburnum. If there are problems, the omnipresent aphids are usually behind it. Therefore, regularly examine the upper and lower sides of the leaves to see whether the brown, yellow, black or white lice have settled there. In the early stages of infestation, there is no need to resort to chemicals, because the classic soft soap solution tops every insecticide in terms of effectiveness. Mix 1000 ml of water with 15 ml of pure soap and add a few drops of spirit. Spray the infected plant with this mix every 2 days until the pests are gone.
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hibernate

They are all hardy. Nevertheless, there are differences in the degree of frost resistance of a viburnum. Since an exact assignment is no longer possible with numerous hybrids, we recommend the following precautions for an undamaged winter period as a precautionary measure:

  • Cover the root disc with autumn leaves, straw or pine twigs
  • Pack planters thickly with bubble wrap, fleece or jute ribbons
  • Place pots on cold-insulating material, such as wood or styrofoam

In locations with harsh winter conditions and on young plants, you can also put a breathable hood over the branches. Since winter flowering and evergreen varieties constantly evaporate water, water them even during the cold season when there is no snow or rain.

multiply snowball

In terms of propagation, tree nurseries and hobby gardeners agree. With head cuttings, you can grow new viburnum in an uncomplicated and fail-safe manner. When the shrub is in full bloom, cut off non-flowering, semi-lignified shoots below a leaf node with a length of 10-15 cm. Defoliate the lower half and place the offshoots in pots with poor substrate. Keep the soil slightly moist in a semi-shady, warm location while the cuttings are busily rooting. If necessary, you can always repot your youngsters until autumn or spring when the seed pot is rooted. From a growth height of 20 cm, administer a diluted liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Repeated pinching of the shoots promotes extra bushy growth and a rich abundance of flowers.
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How do I plant correctly?

Within the first 5 years of life, Viburnum can easily cope with a change of location. The most important premise is that you transplant the wood during the leafless period. In addition, an extensive and regular water supply in the subsequent period makes an important contribution to re-rooting.
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Snowball in the pot

Numerous varieties are wonderfully suitable for your creative design ideas in the pot, such as the evergreen laurel viburnum (Viburnum tinus) or the compact hybrid 'Eskimo'. As a substrate, we recommend high-quality potting soil that is structurally stable enough to support a snowball even as a standard. A water-bearing layer of potsherds or grit (€46.95) effectively prevents harmful waterlogging on the bottom of the pot. How to properly care for the piece of jewelry:

  • Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist
  • Fertilize liquid with a phosphorus-rich preparation during the growth and flowering period
  • Cut back immediately after flowering, in conjunction with thorough thinning

Regardless of the individual flowering time, we recommend winter protection for a snowball in a pot. Wrap the pot in bubble wrap. If that seems too sober in appearance, wrap colorful jute ribbons around it. Varieties that do not flower in winter also have a hood made of breathable fleece.

Is snowball poisonous?

All ornamental shrubs of the Viburnum genus contain toxic glycosides and toxic viburnin. This applies to leaves, flowers, shoots and especially unripe berries. The fruits lose their toxicity when they are fully ripe, but until then they pose a danger to small children and pets. Even the consumption of small amounts triggers nausea, vomiting and cardiac arrhythmia.
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Beautiful varieties

The fantastic Viburnum genus gift us with gorgeous flowering strains at different flowering times. The following selection introduces you to the most beautiful snowball varieties, so that you don't have to do without the distinctive flower balls at any time of the year.

  • Gwenllian: Charming viburnum with evergreen leaves and white flowers from November to March; 100-150cm
  • Dawn: Noble winter snowball that banishes sadness from the garden with pink-white flowers from January to March; 200-250cm
  • Easter Snowball: Gives us pink buds and white flowers for Easter and evergreen foliage; 150-300cm
  • Aurora: Wonderfully fragrant white bloom beauty that evokes spring fever in April and May; 100-180cm
  • Eskimo: Captivates with spherical snowball flowers from April to May and compact growth; 100-150cm
  • Roseum: premium variety that delights us with pink-white, double flowers of 8 cm in May and June; 250-350cm
  • Mariesii: Creamy white Japanese snowball flowers from May to June with a pagoda-like habit; 150-200cm
  • Blue Muffin: Shows off with creamy white flowers in May to June and steel blue berries in autumn; 100-150cm
  • Pink Beauty: Lavish abundance of pink flowers from July to August and colorful autumn colors; 150-300cm

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Vegetable garden