The ideal time to prune is just after they finish flowering. That way you
won't affect next year's bloom.

They will branch at the spots where they've been trimmed. *How* they branch
out depends a lot on the variety. I've got some viburnums that fill out
attractively, and another, a 'Burkwoodi" that sends off branches at awkward
angles. So you might want to prune just a few branches experimentally
before you go whole hog.

Another consideration is the ultimate size of the variety you have. If it's
destined to become a 10 ft. specimen, and you want it to stay at 4, you'd be
better off replacing it with a variety that stays smaller. If its mature
size is about what you had in mind, it shouldn't need any more than a light
shaping from time to time, if that. Another benefit of *not* pruning is
that many viburnums develop berries that songbirds love.

Cheers,
Sue



"Chloe" wrote in message
...
I have several viburnums which were planted last summer. They're about 2
to
3 feet tall and blooming nicely this spring. The fragrance is wonderful.
I'm
not sure when or how much to prune them for maximum growth and flowering
next year. And will they branch out at the points where they are pruned?
They are in a somewhat shady area near the house and I don't want them to
become too spindly. Advice would be much appreciated!

I'm in Zone 6 if that matters.