Snowball Viburnum-pruned too far?

[nellie923]

My gardener and I discussed trimming back this shrub as it was way too big, almost as tall as the house. I wanted to down to about my height (5'4 or so). Gardener came while I was out of town and I came home to this unsightly mess. Will it grow out? I worry that perhaps it's been cut back too far?? Is there any remedy?

 

[Meadowlark]

Will it grow out? I worry that perhaps it's been cut back too far?? Is there any remedy?

Howdy @nellie923

Yes, it will grow out just fine IMO. Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’) can tolerate that and even more. It does look hard pruned, but the stems look healthy, the root system is intact, and there’s fresh leaf growth. That’s exactly what a viburnum does after a big haircut.

It probably will respond by pushing lots of new shoots, skipping or reduced blooming next spring and rebound into a beautiful bush the following year.

Personally, I wouldn't be too hard on the pruner.

 

[nellie923]

So glad it will likely be ok, but sorry to lose the bloom. I should have check about old wood versus new wood bloom. Thanks for the tips and reassurance.

 

[nellie923]

I think if I were doing it, I would have pruned so the cut off tops don't show, if that is possible to cut it down below other foliage. But i have read that those canes are very hard to cut, so I think i will just let it be and see if it grows bak quickly.