Viburnum bugs – holes

Question

Hi there and thank you for the help. I have Viburnum around my pool enclosure and whenever I prune them. I come back later and notice there are holes on each twig i pruned back. Has to be bugs. Is it possible to tell what type of bug? Best way to rid them?

I greatly appreciate the help!

Andrew

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Answer 1

Don't worry, the holes you are seeing are the way a cut branch naturally looks. The type of plant tissue that grows in the center of the branch breaks down quicker than the outer layers, which will naturally cause a hollow tube appearance after a few days.

Also, when pruning a branch, try to remove the branch entirely (cut it back to where it emerges from a larger branch or the trunk) or cut it back to just above a bud that you see emerging from the branch. That will improve the shrub's health and appearance over time. Cutting a branch halfway back as shown in the pictures is not so healthy.