Pouring snowballs

• Snowball origin
• Snowball care and location
• Cutting snowballs
• Fertilizing snowballs
• Pouring snowballs

Snowball origin

The common snowball (Viburnum opulus), also known as the common viburnum or guelder-rose, is a native shrub in the Adoxaceae family. Its native range covers almost all of Europe – from Scandinavia through Central Europe to the Caucasus and North Africa. The plant is also native to parts of Asia, particularly Western Siberia. In Central Europe, the common snowball is a typical riparian, marsh, and floodplain vegetation and grows naturally in moist deciduous forests, hedgerows, and river valleys.

Viburnum opulus was already cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant in the Middle Ages and was used both in cottage gardens and in folk medicine. Particularly characteristic are the magnificent, flat, plate-shaped flower umbels, which consist of a wreath of striking, sterile display flowers and an inner part of fertile individual flowers. This flower structure is not only a visual highlight but also a magnet for bees and other pollinators. In autumn, the viburnum adorns itself with bright red, glossy berries, which are slightly poisonous to humans but an important winter food source for many bird species.

The shrub reaches a height of up to 4 meters and a similar width. Its three-lobed, maple-like leaves are a fresh green in summer and turn an intense red to violet in autumn. This spectacular autumn color makes the viburnum an attractive ornamental tree even after the flowering period. The common viburnum is ideally suited to many natural gardens, wild hedges, or as a solitary plant in parks. It is considered to be of particular ecological value because it provides food for insects and its dense branches provide cover for birds.

Snowball care and location

The snowball tree is an adaptable and easy-care shrub that can cope with a variety of soil and light conditions. It thrives best in a sunny to partially shaded location with fresh to moist, humus-rich soil. It prefers slightly alkaline to neutral soils, but also tolerates slightly acidic substrates. Waterlogging should be avoided at all costs, as it quickly leads to root rot.

An ideal location is at the edge of a woodland, in a wild hedge, or as a freestanding specimen in the garden. The snowball is wind-resistant and can also be planted in urban areas. In the wild, it often grows alongside alders, ash trees, or willows. Its vigorous growth makes it a reliable structural element in the garden—as an eye-catcher, privacy screen, or flowering border.

After planting, you should cover the root zone with mulch. This protects the soil from drying out and simultaneously provides it with long-term nutrients. Make sure the root zone remains weed-free. Regular watering is especially important during the first two years after planting to ensure the shrub's roots establish properly.

Cutting snowballs

The common snowball does not require intensive Video editingto remain vigorous and flowering. However, occasional pruning promotes a compact growth habit and extends the flowering period. It's best to prune immediately after flowering in June, as the shrub forms its flower buds on two-year-old wood. If you prune in autumn or spring, you risk losing the next generation of flowers.

Remove old, overgrown, or dead shoots close to the ground to encourage new growth. You should also thin out branches that grow sideways or rub against each other to improve the crown's ventilation. Regular rejuvenation pruning every few years encourages the shrub to produce strong, flowering shoots.

When working with this tree, make sure you use clean, sharp pruning tools. For very old specimens, you can prune them back radically, right down to the old wood—the viburnum tolerates pruning and usually resprouts reliably.

Fertilizing snowballs

Nutrient-rich soil is the foundation for healthy growth and abundant blooms. In spring—around March or April—you can feed the viburnum with organic matter such as compost, horn shavings, or well-rotted manure. These natural fertilizers also improve soil structure and stimulate soil life.

On very nutrient-poor soils, an additional organic-mineral slow-release fertilizer is helpful. One application in spring is usually sufficient. Be careful not to apply the fertilizer directly to the trunk, but rather work it evenly around the root ring. A second application in June is only necessary in very poor soils.

Avoid high nitrogen content Fertilizer, as they promote vegetative growth but reduce flowering. mulch layer Mulch made from leaves or bark not only preserves soil moisture but also provides the soil with valuable nutrients as it decomposes.

Pouring snowballs

The snowball tree is one of the moisture-loving woody plants. It requires a good amount of water, especially in the first few years and during longer dry periods. regular and thorough water supplyThe soil should always be slightly moist, but never waterlogged. It's especially important during flowering and in summer that the water supply in the root zone doesn't dry up.

Here offers the baumbad watering bag A particularly convenient solution: The bag is placed around the trunk, filled with up to 75 liters of water, and slowly releases it into the soil over several hours. The water seeps directly into the root zone – deeply, efficiently, and with minimal loss.

This form of watering is particularly optimal for newly planted or young snowballs. The consistent moisture level reduces stress on the plant, promotes root development, and strengthens its resilience. During hot summer months, you can fill the bag two to three times a week – depending on location and weather. For larger shrubs or groups of plants, you can also combine several bags.

Water preferably in the morning or evening to minimize evaporation. Check soil moisture regularly with your finger or a soil probe to ensure timely rewatering. For older, established plants, it's sufficient to water only during extended drought periods.