Avoid Pruning This Perennial In Fall If You Want Big, Beautiful Blooms In Spring

Pruning is a necessary but often tedious task for gardeners. Getting the timing right is essential for many plants, and viburnums are a great example. With over 150 species, viburnums (Viburnum spp.) make up a diverse group of shrubs and trees. Many of them are ornamental shrubs that can house and feed birds in your yard all winter long and feature lovely flowers that give way to pretty berries in the winter. Pruning them at the wrong time, typically in fall, may mean missing out on their beautiful spring display. So hold off on pruning in fall and save it for summer, when it can actually make a healthy difference for your viburnum plants.

If you're looking for a low-maintenance flower that's a gorgeous alternative to hydrangeas, you might have your answer in one of the stunning species of viburnum. Like several species of hydrangeas, all viburnums bloom on old wood. Every bud that turns into a flower on your viburnum bush is already there at the end of summer, preceding fall. When you prune them in the fall, you risk cutting off the buds that would become next year's flowers.

Many viburnum species, including arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), feature vibrant fall leaf color. By pruning at the optimum time, you get to enjoy the stunning displays to their fullest, without worrying about cutting branches back. Plus, avoiding fall pruning allows your viburnum shrubs to develop robust buds that will survive well over the winter. Depending on the type of viburnum you grow in your yard, you might prune immediately after flowering is over. However, if you have any species of viburnum that flowers in the summer, you need to plan to prune those bushes in late winter or early spring.

Viburnums also don't require much maintenance. You can definitely prune a little bit among the branches after the blooming period to help shape your shrubs. Pruning can also help control the size of your viburnum plants. Removing about a third of the branches prompts the plant to grow healthier ones each year. If you do remove the flower heads to clean up your plant, you may prevent the development of the attractive fruit that birds enjoy. In the end, it's best to save your time and energy for the perennial plants you should be pruning in the fall, like yarrow and hostas.