snowball bush

[Nancy Thompson]

I have a 3 year old snowball bush that is now in full bloom. Is it appropriate to prune these bushes? If so, when?

[rainbowgardener]

First tell us what it really is. There's at least three different things that might be called snowball bush: snowball viburnum (viburnum opulus), mophead hydrangea, peegee hydrangea. They have different pruning requirements.

[Nancy Thompson]

It is a snowball viburnum.

[rainbowgardener]

Viburnums should need minimal pruning. If you are pruning it, you want to do it immediately after it flowers. Later in the summer it will be setting buds for next year's flowers, so if you prune after that you will lose some of next year's flowers. However, viburnums (being wonderful three season shrubs! ) also have fall berries. So if you prune, you will lose some of the berries, which is one reason they generally aren't pruned a lot. Mainly all you want to do is remove any dead or damaged stems, and remove a few that are growing in the center, especially crossing over others or growing toward the interior, to open up the center to light and air.