Fragrant viburnum (Viburnum farreri): when and how to prune

Fragrant viburnum (Viburnum farreri): when to prune it?

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In April, straight after flowering, and only lightly. It flowers on the previous year’s wood.

What else to prune in those months? April

Fragrant viburnum (Viburnum farreri): how to prune it?

1. Remove dead, weak and crossing stems.
2. Every few years, take out one or two of the oldest stems at the base; new shoots will come up from below.
3. Shorten over-long stems to a side branch so the shrub keeps its natural shape.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: April.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in April can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Fragrant viburnum (Viburnum farreri) flowers in November–March, when it attracts bees.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Bodnant viburnum (Viburnum × bodnantense)
• David viburnum (Viburnum davidii)
• Guelder rose
• Japanese snowball
• Laurustinus
• Wayfaring tree

Plant profile: Fragrant viburnum (Viburnum farreri) · Pruning calendar and basic rules