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can you keep a snowball bush small

by Marian Goodwin Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

To keep it small, you'll have to prune it every year after flowering. Accordingly, how do you take care of a snowball tree? It does well in sun or partial shade. The Snowball Bush is easy to care for and maintain.

Viburnum snowball bushes grow relatively quickly, so they can become too tall or crowded. If your bush needs serious work, use shears to trim the shoots and branches back. You can also cut out the larger, older shoots to thin the plant.

Full Answer

Are Snowball bushes easy to care for?

The Snowball Bush is easy to care for and maintain and makes a great focal point for the center of a large yard or for the corner of a foundation planting. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers and berries. Being semi-evergreen, Snowballs create a beautiful spring and fall display in any landscape.

Can you cut snowball bush flowers for display?

You can cut the flowers to use in displays. An alternate name for this cultivar name is "Sterile," which reflects the fact that this type of snowball bush produces no berries. The leaves are three-lobed and somewhat resemble the leaves of maple trees. Like maple, the leaves can turn reddish-orange in the fall.

How do you get rid of a snowball bush?

Examine your snowball bush throughout the year to look for broken or rotting branches. With a sharp pair of shears, cut out the damaged parts. If possible, cut above the nodes, which are where new leaves and branches grow off of the old branches.

How big does a snowball bush get?

Snowball bush is relatively easy to grow, is low-maintenance and matures into a large dense bush up to 12 feet tall. It has good drought tolerance.

Is there a dwarf snowball bush?

The tallest varieties of Viburnum grow up to two feet per year. Shorter dwarf varieties grow at a slower pace. When fully mature, the Snowball Bush will grow large, up to 12 tall and 15 feet wide.

How tall should a snowball bush be?

around twelve to fifteen feetSnowball bush blooms generally start out green, progress to white at maturity, and develop a pinkish hue as they fade. Their vibrant green foliage gives way to a purplish color in the fall. At a mature height, they can reach the size of a small tree (around twelve to fifteen feet).

How big does a Dwarf Snowball bush get?

At a height of 4 to 5 feet tall and 7 to 8 feet wide, we'd have no problem suggesting this super hardy and low maintenance evergreen flowering powerhouse shrub as a home foundation plant.

Can you split a snowball bush?

Allow the container to drain completely. Cut a stem from the snowball bush that is the current year's growth. Current stems on the shrub are suitable for rooting when you bend a stem and it snaps into two pieces.

How wide does a snowball bush get?

How to Grow and Care for Snowball Bush ViburnumCommon NameSnowball bush viburnum, fragrant snowball, European cranberrybushBotanical NameViburnum x carlcephalumFamilyAdoxaceaePlant TypeDeciduous shrubMature Size6–12 ft. tall, 6–10 ft. wide7 more rows•Jun 16, 2022

Is there a dwarf viburnum?

An exceptional dwarf viburnum that is a puffball of creamy white, fragrant flowers in late spring. Handsome, glossy foliage gives this shrub a sophisticated presence in the garden even when it is not in bloom. Top reasons to grow Lil' Ditty viburnum: one of the only dwarf viburnums on the market - just 1-2' tall.

What is the difference between a snowball bush and a hydrangea?

Snowball bush grows in full sun to partial shade, and hydrangea grows best in partial shade though it can grow in full sun with more regular watering. A tolerance for drought with the snowball bush and an intolerance of drought, with wilting leaves, for the hyrdrangea. Lose of leaves during winter with both plants.

Which is the smallest viburnum?

Like a typical opulus but with smaller leaves, it is said to be 2 feet by 2 feet! He notes that Viburnum trilobum, 'Jewell Box' (above) and Viburnum opulus 'Bullatum' are the smallest growing viburnums of which he is aware. With all these many choices there is no reason not to explore this beautiful and enduring genus.

Do snowball bushes spread?

Snowballs like to spread their roots and some can grow as high as 15 feet. A spot receiving six to eight hours of bright sun each day is ideal. Dig a hole as deep as the rootball and twice as wide to accommodate the bush's root ball so the roots have enough room to spread out.

How do you trim an overgrown snowball bush?

2:484:10Prune a Snowball Bush - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf your bush needs serious work use shears to trim the shoots and branches back you can also cut outMoreIf your bush needs serious work use shears to trim the shoots and branches back you can also cut out the larger older shoots to thin the plant.

How do you prune a viburnum snowball bush?

How to Prune a Viburnum Snowball ShrubDecide why you wish to prune, as not all plants need pruned annually. ... Prune only after the bush has finished blooming. ... Remove any damaged branches, or those that look diseased or dead, first. ... Prune any branches clustered tightly together, especially if several cross each other.More items...

How do you make a snowball bush into a tree?

1:263:15How to Trim Your Shrub into a Tree! Lisa's Landscape & DesignYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen you start cutting off everything that's at the bottom yeah. Choose a spot that you know youMoreThen you start cutting off everything that's at the bottom yeah. Choose a spot that you know you want to tree it up -.

Where Does This Shrub Grow?

Gardeners in planting zones 3 to 8 can grow snowball bush. The best location for the shrub will be one in full sun (in the North) and with a well-d...

How to Care For Snowball Bushes

Water snowball bush enough to keep its soil evenly moist, as it does not like dry ground. Conserve soil moisture (and suppress weeds, to boot) by a...

What Other Shrubs Share This Common Name?

People apparently find the name of "snowball bush" appealing, because several other plants have commandeered it as their own common name, including...

Landscaping Uses For Snowball Bushes

Some uses for snowball bushes in the yard are as: 1. Hedge plants 2. Specimen plants for spring and/or fall

How much sun does a snowball bush need?

Light. The best location for the shrub will be one in full sun, especially in cooler Northern states. The snowball bush likes at least six hours of sunlight per day in order to produce the biggest masses of flowers.

What type of soil does a snowball bush like?

The snowball bush prefers well-drained, loamy soil but it isn't too particular and will grow well in many different soil types. It also tolerates a wide range of soil pH, but slightly acid is best.

What color are the leaves on a snowball bush?

Like maple trees, the leaves of the snowball bush viburnum can turn reddish-orange in the fall, making it a perfect year-round landscape addition and specimen plant for spring or fall. Botanical Name. Viburnum x carlcephalum. Common Name.

Why do you leave space between snowballs?

It is a good idea to leave space between your snowball bush and other plants to reduce the chance of attack by bacterial leaf spot or powdery mildew.

Where does the snowball bush viburnum grow?

Back to Top. Snowball bush viburnum is a popular and easy-to-grow landscape plant native to Europe and Asia. This large, moderately-quick growing shrub forms an upright dense mound and features 3-inch round clusters of flowers (resembling, of course, a snowball) that start out apple-green and morph to white, eventually fading to a rosy color ...

What are snowball bushes?

Snowball bushes are known for the puffy, white flowers that bloom on them year after year. What many people don’t realize is that several different plants are called snowball bushes. Viburnum bushes bloom in the spring, while hydrangea bushes bloom in the fall.

How to grow a sage bush?

Cut older branches back to the growth nodes. Check the branches for thick spots where new buds form. Trim thick, woody branches right above this point. Doing this encourages the plant to grow new branches, which can be helpful if your bush looks a little thin or ragged.

How to remove old tree branches?

2. Cut the oldest shoots near the ground. The oldest branches are the thickest, woodiest ones. They may produce side shoots or have flaky bark that make them easier to recognize. Using a clean, sharp pair of shears, cut as close to the soil as you can to completely remove the shoots.

Can you remove snowball flowers from a viburnum?

Leave behind the thinner, fresher shoots coming up from the plant’s base. These will rejuvenate your viburnum. Although the snowball flowers bloom on old wood in viburnum plants, the oldest shoots produce weak flowers and are safe to remove. ...

How big are snowball bush blooms?

The blooms start as pink buds that unfurl to reveal blush pink white flowers. Individual flower globes measure 5 inches across and are made of up to 100 individual blossoms. The scent is rich and pervasive with carnation clove overtones.

What is the largest snowball bush?

Chinese snowball bush ( Viburnum macrocephalum) opens some of the largest snowball blooms, with flower heads measuring up to 8 inches across. The flowers on Viburnum macrocephalum shift from pale green, to cream, to white. Within one snowball flower, individual blossoms can show different shades at the same time, giving blooms a tricolor effect.

What is a snowball bush viburnum?

During the growing season, snowball bush viburnum has green leaves that provide a beautiful backdrop to the spring flower show. It' s an easy-growing shrub that thrives in full sun to part shade.

What color are snowball flowers?

Snowball flowers are green, then turn white and often fade into a rosy pink. Snowball Bush Viburnum. Prolific, easy to maintain snowball bush viburnum with white flower balls growing in a garden. Photo by: Shutterstock/Ninii. Shutterstock/Ninii. Sun: Full sun to part shade.

When do viburnum snowballs bloom?

This viburnum snowball bush opens white flowers in mid-spring. The blossoms are 2 to 3 inches across and fade from white to pink as they age. Fall leaf color features shades of burgundy and purplish red.

When do snowball bush flowers bloom?

European snowball bush blooms in spring opening flower clusters that are 3 inches across. The flowers start apple green and age to white. This is one of the oldest recorded viburnums, dating to the 16th Century, when it was called "sambucus rose.".

What is a low growing juniper?

The low-growing shore juniper, or Juniperus conferta, is a beautiful plant for dry areas. How to Plant Bromeliads. Learn about this low-maintenance family of plants known for its clustered leaves and showy, long-lasting flowers. How to Grow Blueberries. Blueberry plants can produce fruits for decades.

What is snowball bush?

Snowball bush is a common name used to classify several ornamental plants that produce large clusters of white flowers that resemble heaps of snow. The major pros that are common with the varieties of this ornamental plant are that they are easy to cultivate and maintain. It also does well with most soil types.

How are snowball bushes similar?

All the different types of snowball bushes are similar in the type of flower clusters that it produces. We believe that the knowledge of the differences between these shrubs will help you decide which will be better for your garden.

How tall does a hydrangea shrub get?

Both of them are similar because they both produce the same type of flowers. The following are the differences between them. Hydrangea shrubs grow 5 – 10 feet tall, while Viburnum grows between 10 – 20 feet. So if you are looking to cultivate a snowball shrub for the height, the Viburnum will be the best to look into.

What is the difference between a snowball hydrangea and a viburnum?

Another difference between these two shrubs is that Hydrangea flowers in summer while Viburnum blossoms in spring.

How tall does a snowball shrub get?

The mature shrub will reach up to 10 feet high. It is one of the last of the very fragrant flowers to bloom in spring. During this season, the flowers attract bees and butterflies. The fragrant snowball grows better in full or partial sun in the Sunset Climate Zones.

How tall are Chinese snowballs?

They are also as tall as the previous and even more. At full maturity, they reach between 15 to 20 feet in height.

What are the two types of snowball bushes?

They are as follows: Species of Hydrangea, which tend to flower in the summer: Species of Viburnum, which tend to flower in the spring:

What is a snowball bush?

Snowball bushes, also known as Viburnum opulus "Roseum," are tall ornamental shrubs that produce vibrant white blooms resembling their wintery namesake . Their colorful spring and summer evolution begins with green blooms before turning bright white and fading to pink as they wither. In the fall, the snowball bush's foliage turns yellow and red, ...

How to propagate snowball bush?

Snowball Bush Propagation. Take snowball bush cuttings in mid-spring when it's early in the growing period. Look for a current growth about 6 inches long with leaves on the branch. Prune the branch just under a leaf node, using sanitized pruning shears to prevent disease .

How to treat snowballs in the summer?

Snowballs are prone to fungal spots and mildew on their leaves, especially during the warm summer months. Monitor leaves for the sign of mold or fungus and apply an appropriate fungicide.

How high do snowballs grow?

Choose a planting spot that affords the snowball plenty of room to grow. Snowballs like to spread their roots and can grow as high as 12 feet. A spot receiving six to eight hours of bright sun each day is ideal. Advertisement.

How to grow a bush with a ball?

Advertisement. Dig a hole wide enough and deep enough to accommodate the bush's root ball so it's snug but the roots have enough room to spread out. Add compost to enrich the soil and add water to establish roots. Top the soil with mulch to protect the roots from weeds and the elements.

Do snowball bushes like sun?

Thriving in U.S. Department of Agriculture Zones 3 to 8, snowball bushes prefer full sun but also do well with partial shade. Best planted in the fall or spring, snowball bushes appreciate well-drained soil. Choose a planting spot that affords the snowball plenty of room to grow.

How to kill snowball bushes?

2. Spray the soil around the shrub with insecticidal soap spray if you notice root weevil larvae chewing on the roots. Root weevils, which look like white grubs with brown heads, cause significant damage to the snowball bush. Drench the foliage to treat the adult weevils, which are black flying insects. Treat the plant three times ...

How to treat snowball bush with soap?

Treat sucking insects such as aphids, mites, thrips and scale by spraying the snowball bush with insecticidal soap spray. Apply a premixed product or mix a concentrated product at a rate of 1 teaspoon per pint. Increase to 4 teaspoons per pint if the infestation is severe. You can also use a homemade spray consisting of 1 tablespoon ...

What insects are in snowball bushes?

Encourage beneficial insects such as lady beetles and lacewings that feed on leaf beetles, aphids, scale, mites and other pests. Be sure the snowball bush is properly watered, fertilized and pruned, because healthy plants are more pest-resistant than stressed bushes.

How to get rid of viburnum leaf beetles?

Prune infested twigs to remove the eggs of viburnum leaf beetles, which are easy to spot while the plant is dormant from autumn until midspring. Alternatively, use an organic pesticide containing pyrethrins.

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