Viburnum Was Cut and Now Is All Discolored

Question

Viburnum hedge was about 5′ high. Landscapers cut it back a foot. The next week the leaves were half brown and the insides of the plant dried up and dying. Was told my plants are going into shock. They are 8 years old, very lush to start with. No watering issues here. I think something leaked from the machinery on my plants. An old plant like this could not go into shock from trimming, right? If so, the leaves on top would not be half dead, or would they?

Answer 1

the reason could be the machine the guys used may have shredded the branches and they turned brown Can I suggest to you get a secretaurs or clippers and go back over the hedge again and cut a few more inches off the hedge which will encourage new growth

Answer 2

It is possible that the newly exposed leaves have been sunburned. Especially if the only leaves showing browning are on top. If the hedge was thick, it is also possible that the brown leaves you are seeing now were that way before pruning. This is “normal” when light can’t get to the interior of dense foliage.

However, I am puzzled by “landscapers” pruning viburnum in the fall. Spring trimming just before flushing would eliminate bare branch ends from showing all winter. Trimming only 1′ should not shock an 8′ hedge to the point of death.
To tidy up ragged stems left by hedge trimmers is a good idea. It will reduce the chances of disease and pests entering the wound.