Viburnum pruning

[David Shaw]

This lady I do trimming for has a Viburnum that is looking sickly. It has been there for 40 years. I think it needs cut to the ground for rejuvenation I've attached a picture of what the ends of some aof the branches are doing. Thanks Dave

[GLAN]

It's been dry in your area this summer?

[NCSULandscaper]

Could either be too much or not enough water.

[Team Gopher]

Hi David,

Here are a few links for Viburnum diseases. If you want to do further research.

Viburnum Diseases (http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/CASDEPT/PLANT/ext/viburnum.html)

VIBURNUM DISEASES II (http://www.oldhouseweb.com/gardening/garden/01700948.shtml)

Control Measures for Diseases of Specific Crops
Viburnum (http://woodypestguide.cas.psu.edu/Diseases/Viburnum.html)

[David Shaw]

Very dry the past month or more, hot also. But like I said the thing is 40 years old. Could just be in decline? There is new growth coming off the roots that looks okay. Dave

[GLAN]

Did you have a very wet spring?

Was there any ground work done around the shrub?

From what your describing it might be that it was wet in the spring, the roots suffered root damage. Meaning not enough fiborous roots to sustain the plant, not able to get water up to the higher points of the shrub.

That may or may not be the cause, but if that were part of the problem it can also lead into weakening the plant making it more vulnerable to pest and disease.

[David Shaw]

Our spring wasn't very wet. Just normal for here. The first part of the summer was wet for here. Still we are way behind on subsoil moisture content. No there wasn't any ground work around it. She had me prune out the dead spots and it really looks funky. No shape to it.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by David Shaw
This lady I do trimming for has a Viburnum that is looking sickly. It has been there for 40 years. I think it needs cut to the ground for rejuvenation I've attached a picture of what the ends of some aof the branches are doing. Thanks Dave

I've never seen a vibrunum with berries (fruit) on it. I may be wrong, but I you seem to have something other than a viburnum.
Pete

[GLAN]

Viburnum x burkwoodii ‘Conoy’
This evergreen Viburnum was the last, and possibly the finest, of Dr. Egolf’s introductions. Dark red buds open as creamy white to pink flowers amidst the most lustrous of all Viburnum foliage. Later, persistent glossy red fruit brightens the fine textured, deep green leaves, which are pale olive green underneath and tinged with deep maroon in winter. We are fond of this compact, colorful, low spreading shrub in containers, as a dense informal hedge, or in mass plantings.

41/2' x 7' ; late April. Zone 6.


I have Burkwoodi in my yard. Never had berries

Though the leef is not the leaf pictured

[David Shaw]

Uh, I'm sorry. But you've never seen a Viburnum with fruit!? I am fairly certain this is a Viburnum trilobum, American Cranberry Bush Viburnum. Could be a Sargentii or Opulus, they all have very similar leaves. Anyway they all set fruit, it is one of the things that give them multi seasonal interest. A quote from Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs. " The scarlet, 1/2" long fruit are effective from August into October."

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by David Shaw
Uh, I'm sorry. But you've never seen a Viburnum with fruit!? I am fairly certain this is a Viburnum trilobum, American Cranberry Bush Viburnum. Could be a Sargentii or Opulus, they all have very similar leaves. Anyway they all set fruit, it is one of the things that give them multi seasonal interest. A quote from Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs. " The scarlet, 1/2" long fruit are effective from August into October."
OK, so you and "Glan" just need to push the knife in a little further.;) As I said, I've never seen one. All we have are white and pink viburnum's.

[GLAN]

I wasn't pushing..............................I was twisting...........;)


Your right though. I haven't seen many or any with berries. Guess we trim them all off hacking away like we always do....:eek:

[mdvaden]

Makes you feel like changing a handle from switchless to switchblade maybe?

For David Shaw -

Are there big stubs, or enclosed large cuts that may indicate the shrub was topped years back?

If so, that could indicate damage from decay inside.

I still say hack those back.

But they still get the same damage as trees from topping.

[David Shaw]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to push, twist, or jab. Just that they are all over the place up here. They get used quite a bit for screening hedges. What I cut out the other day was solid. It looked good this spring when I was there. And now it's doing this. :blush: :blush: