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| I just started pruning my deciduous shrubs. They are fairly young and only need minimal pruning, so I was looking for dead branches and anything that was crossed. I hesitated a few times to remove a crossed branch when it seemed it was going to effect the overall shape of the shrub and cause a 'hole'. Some are close to rubbing up against other branches. What do you do in that situation?
The other question is about Viburnum maresii. I am very happy with the way the horizontal branch structure is developing, but I see there are quite a few branches that are coming straight up in the middle and I wonder if I should be pruning these out. There are a lot of them and I wonder if it will take too much from the shrub. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| My V. 'Shasta' also produces a lot of straight up shoots--I'm not sure why. I prune then out every spring. |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, Feb 14, 10 at 9:40
| Typically the vertical shoots emerging from the center of doublefile viburnums will begin to develop horizontal branching that corresponds to the existing, very horizontal growth habit. If too many, you can of course prune them out but it is not necessarily a requirement. The exception would be 'Summer Snowflake', which forms a large, rounded shrub or small tree without the distinctly horizontal growth habit of other doublefiles. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Feb 14, 10 at 17:37
| go back out and remove one of the crossing branches .... spring growth will fill the hole before you know it.. besides.. a hole is the preferred alternative.. to a disease infested wound.. wouldnt you think??? ken |
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Mon, Feb 15, 10 at 8:36
| Gardengal, there aren't too many vertical branches. Some of them are growing in such a way as to start to rub against other branches, so I will take those out. I assume that every time you prune off branches, it stimulates new growth, is that right? If so, on a Viburnum, where would you expect to see new growth? New branches from the base? Ken, you're right, off they come. Thanks again, looks like you two are holding down the fort here in the Shrubs forum. [g] |
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| Prairiemoon, I have two Maresii Viburnum which were planted 2 years ago. They both are developing beautifully and have easily doubled their width. I notice that the vertical growth from the center is quite vigorous and did think about removing some branches. However, the rest of the branches are so absolutely horizontal, that I wonder if the plant would ever get any taller if it weren't for these "shoots". I'm leaving them alone. My general plan for Viburnum is based on the fact that they seem to thrive without any help from me. |
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| I've been pruning them because they disfigure the lovely horizontal branching, but this year I'll let them go and see what happens. |
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- Posted by prairiemoon2 zone 6a/MA (My Page) on Fri, Feb 19, 10 at 6:39
| Harry, thanks for sharing your experience. It's always reassuring to hear from someone growing the same shrub you are. My maresii is growing in challenging conditions. Less sun that I think it would like and lots of Silver Maple tree roots nearby. So, it sounds like your shrub is growing faster than mine, but mine is growing well just the same. I think this is the year it is going to take off. It has probably doubled in size, but it's taken three years to do it. I am going to take out only the verticals that are rubbing against other branches and see how it works leaving the rest of the verticals alone too. laceyvail, it would seem that you've been pruning them out and they grow back? |
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