How to Prune a Chinese Snowball

Prune Chinese snowball shrubs right after flowering. This viburnum variety blooms on the previous year's growth, so you don't want to prune before the buds appear. Pruning the shrub just after the flowers fade allows any new plant growth the time to mature before damaging winter weather hits.

Cut out any diseased, dead or damaged branches as soon as you spot them. This prevents insects and new pathogens from entering the injured plant tissue. Always prune these problem branches back at least 2 inches past the affected area to ensure that you cut into healthy wood.

Thin out your Chinese snowball to open up the center of the shrub. This allows sunlight to reach the inner branches and promotes healthy air ventilation, both of which are factors in preventing plant diseases.

Start the pruning process by cutting out the oldest branches. Older Chinese snowball branches produce no or very few new blooms. Use pruning shears to cut the branches off where they meet with the parent stem. This encourages newer branches to produce flowers.

Cut back the tallest branches to encourage the growth of side branches. Make these cuts about 1/2 inch above a dormant bud, leaf or branch junction.

Trim off any branches that stick out above the top of the shrub. Make these errant branches level with the others.

Follow your Chinese snowball shrub's natural shape while pruning. You don't want to overprune the plant and ruin its natural beauty. Overpruned Chinese snowballs end up looking straggly and unattractive.