The snowball enriches every garden with its beautiful blossoms. With the right care, you can enjoy this hardy shrub for a long time.
The snowball (Viburnum opulus) is one of the most popular hedge plants in our gardens. Although the snowball-like flowers appear in early summer, the evergreen plant is an asset all year round. Small red berries form from the flowers, which provide pretty contrasts in the home garden. The maintenance and cultivation of the fast ball is the content of this text.
Special features of the snowball
The snowball grows quite quickly into a stately shrub. The annual growth height is about 40 centimeters. A snowball bush can grow up to four meters high and about 2.5 meters wide. This should be considered when planting.
The white spherical flowers are not only an eye-catcher, they also have a pleasantly intoxicating scent. In autumn, the orange-red color of the leaves catches the eye and the birds feast on the berries, which, however, are poisonous to us humans.
| Viburnum opulus | |
|---|---|
| Growth Speed: | 15 - 40 cm a year |
| Growth: | 150 - 400 cm |
| Growth: | 150 - 300 cm |
| Root system: | Shallow roots |
| Location: | sun to shade |
| Floor: | permeable, loamy, humus-rich soil, fresh and moist, preferably calcareous |
Caution, poisonous!
In the raw state, almost all parts of the viburnum plant are poisonous. The plant sap must not come into contact with the mucous membranes or get into open wounds. Wear gloves when gardening.
The red berries appear in late summer. Ripe fruits can be eaten. Poisonous glycosides are contained in unripe fruits. These toxins are also found in the leaves and bark of viburnum.
Some Popular Snowball Varieties
Pillow Viburnum (ViburnumDavidii)
The "Pillow Snowball" only grows up to half a meter high. It is very suitable for group planting and has pretty light pink flowers. - © EMFA16 / stock.adobe.com
Easter Snowball (Viburnum X Burkwoodii)
The "Easter Snowball" can reach up to three meters in height and growth width. The small flowers have a scent reminiscent of vanilla. - © Ruckszio / stock.adobe.com
Evergreen tongue viburnum (Viburnum Rhytidophyllum)
The "Evergreen tongue viburnum" has strikingly large white flowers and can also thrive in the shade. - © gratysanna / stock.adobe.com
Plant Snowball
Find a suitable location
The common snowball is popularly known as "water snowball". This is an indication of the plant's preference for a location that is as moist as possible. A sunny position promises fast growth and lush flowering.
Cultivation is also possible in partial shade. However, the plant should get sunshine for a few hours a day. If the spot is too shady, the Schnellball acknowledges it by dropping the flowers. Too little sun has a negative effect on growth performance and generally weakens the plant.
Select ideal substrate
The viburnum will thrive in a moist and deep soil. Dry and nutrient-poor soils can be worked up by adding gravel, humus and clay.
Tip: Regular mulching makes the soil more permeable and ensures that moisture and nutrients are transported to the roots.
Even when planted in a bucket, the viburnum depends on a nutrient-rich and well-drained substrate.
Planting Instructions
1. Select location2. Clean soil and work up if necessary
3. Observe planting distance
4. Water plant
5. Dig planting hole6. Insert the plant
7. Fill up the substrate
8. Press the soil
9. Water the plant generously
❀ Planting time
Spring is the ideal time to plant snowballs. This gives the plant enough time to develop sufficiently until winter and form a stable root system that allows it to absorb liquid and nutrients from the soil.
❀ required space
At the selected location shouldthere is no lack of space. As already mentioned, the snowball also grows in width quite quickly.
➙ Planting distance for single planting: two to three meters
➙ Planting distance for hedge planting: half a meter
❀ Prepare plant
Before planting, the Schnellball should be watered for a day to allow the roots to soak up moisture. The planting hole must be at least twice the width of the root ball.
❀ Prepare soil
Poor soil is to be provided with humus. Soils that are too dense become more permeable by adding sand and gravel.
❀ Planting
The plant is placed in the prepared planting hole up to the upper root neck. The planting hole is then filled with the excavation and the substrate is lightly pressed down. After planting, the Schnellball needs to be sufficiently moistened.
Planting in the tub
The snowball can also be cultivated in a bucket. Since it is a fast-growing plant, the planter must be of sufficient size. Before you fill in the substrate, lay a drainage made of potsherds or gravel on the bottom of the container. This protects the plant from waterlogging.
Care for Snowball
Pouring Quickball Properly
Shrubs are often neglected or even completely forgotten in the garden when watering. This shouldn't happen with the quickball. In summer, the plant must be watered regularly. After planting, the need for water is particularly high.
The viburnum does not tolerate prolonged drought or waterlogging. Older plants do better with sporadic watering than young shrubs. Nevertheless, there will be fewer flowers and growth will be rather poor.
The snowball is poured when the top layer of earth appears to have dried. Even in winter, make sure that the root ball does not dry out. Therefore, water the plant with lukewarm water on frost-free days.
Fertilize snowball correctly
Shrubs cultivated outdoors will do well with a dose of compost or horn shavings in spring.
Tip: Coffee grounds are also well tolerated as fertilizer.
If the soil around the plant is covered with bark mulch, weed growth can be curbed and the plants are supplied with important nutrients at the same time.
Cutting Snowball
Since it grows very quickly, you should trim your snowball regularly. The pruning canin early summer, after flowering. In June can also be thinned out. Prune old branches liberally to encourage new growth.
Overview of important planting and care tips
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Select Location | • sunny • warm • humid |
| Prepare substrate | • moist • permeable • nutrient rich |
| planting | • Keep planting distance • Water the plant beforehand • Water well after planting |
| Casting | • water abundantly after planting • water older plants sporadically • do not allow to dry out |
| Fertilize | • supply with natural fertilizer in spring • mulch occasionally |
| Cut | • Pruning in early summer • Thinning out in June |
Multiply Snowball
The Schnellball can be propagated by cuttings and root suckers.
Propagation by cuttings
Snowball cuttings are taken in the fall. To do this, select shoots that are about ten centimeters long. The leaves at the bottom of the shoot are removed. The cutting can then be placed in a planter with poor soil.
Rooting takes place within a few weeks in a bright but not full sun location. The ideal temperature is 20 degrees. The planter is kept evenly moist. If new shoots and leaf tips appear, a successful propagation can be assumed.
Tip: Not every cutting becomes a new plant. Therefore, cut several cuttings.
Propagation by root suckers
The common viburnum and a few other species form numerous stolons. These runners can be cut off in the spring and put back into the ground in a new planting spot.
The root sections must be kept sufficiently moist for a new viburnum bush to develop. If you want to shorten the cultivation time, you can search the soil around the mother plant. It is not uncommon to find young plants that have already emerged from root suckers.
Leave these in the ground for a while and transplant the strong plants to their new location after a few weeks.
Recognize diseases and pests on snowballs
The snowball is a fairly robust plant.Diseases and pests are rare. In some regions of Germany, the black snowball aphid and the black bean aphid are increasing. The result is deformed leaves and no flowering.
If there are nodular thickenings on the leaves, the snapball is infested with gall mites. The snowball leaf beetle can cause massive damage to the shrub. The larvae deform the leaves until only a skeleton remains. It is then spoken of as a skeletonizer.
Avoiding care mistakes is the best prevention against diseases and pest infestations. Preventive spraying with field horsetail broth strengthens the plant and makes it more resistant to pests.
Wintering Snowball
Most snowball varieties are hardy. Applying a layer of brushwood, compost or bark mulch is enough to keep the soil from drying out.
If the snowball is cultivated in a tub, a suitable winter quarters for the plant must be found indoors. The plants should hibernate bright and at about ten degrees. The snowball must not dry out during this time.