Is there a way to save my dying viburnums?

Question

There were 6 viburnums planted alongside a garage wall in our house when we bought it 15 years ago. They were growing so big and taking over each other (3 staggered in front of 3) that we removed the front 3 several years ago. Now the three we kept look awful and worse by the week. We keep removing dead branches. They are pretty sparse and sickly looking now. Is there anything I can do that might turn things around? Or is it a matter of age of the bushes? Our ground is awful - clay that's practically like concrete over a period of time. We also got hit hard with cicadas this year; I don't know if that's done anything. Thanks for any suggestions.

Answer 1

Cicadas did damage some shrubs as well as trees. If this is just cicada damage, then remove the dead branches & your shrubs should recover next year. Look at the dead branches, you can see the slits made by the adult female cicada's overpositor along the bottom side of the branch. They create a zippered affect along the length of the branch.

I doubt that this had anything to do with the transplanting of the shrubs as this occurred 3 years ago. You should have notice these problems then, not now. Also, I doubt that the clay soil has now become a problem after growing in the same soil for 15 years without these problems.

If they are looking that bad, then you may consider renewal pruning them this winter/early spring. Renewal pruning means cutting the plants back to within 3 to 6 inches of ground level. In this instance, timing is more important than technique. The best time to prune severely is before spring growth begins. Renewal pruning results in abundant new growth by midsummer. Once the new shoots are 6 to 12 inches long, prune the tips to encourage lateral branching and a more compact shrub. This will give your Viburnum a renewed look and vigor.

Answer 2

Sorry, you removed the wrong ones. Could be the ones in back were being shaded by the ones in front. IF, and I do mean IF there are buds still alive in the wood of the remaining plants, cutting the plants back early next spring may result in fresh new growth. I suspect though the back guys have been starved for light for so long, eeeking out their live on the few top leaves that received light, that the plant's "gas tank" (reserve food energy) is "sucking fumes" and the plants won't have the stored energy to come back.

Answer 3

It's time for most gardens to go to sleep. Are your nights cool, if so let the babies do their thing and close down for Fall and Winter.

We are cleaning out our gardens this week too.