Choosing the Optimal Soil for Your Arrowwood Viburnum Shrub

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Robby

Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a popular deciduous shrub known for its versatility, adaptability, and beauty. With its showy white spring blooms, attractive fall foliage, and berries that birds love, it’s no wonder this shrub is a staple in many gardens. However, to keep your arrowwood viburnum looking its best, it’s important to plant it in the optimal soil. Soil acts as the foundation that supports the entire plant, so choosing the right type is key to the shrub’s health and performance. In this article, we’ll explore how to select the ideal soil for arrowwood viburnum to help it thrive.

An Overview of Arrowwood Viburnum’s Soil Needs

Before selecting a soil, it’s helpful to understand arrowwood viburnum’s basic soil requirements:

  • Soil texture – Arrowwood viburnum does best in loamy soils which have a balance of sand, silt, and clay particles. The loam provides good drainage while retaining some moisture. Avoid heavy clay soils or very sandy soils.

  • Soil pH – Slightly acidic to neutral soil in the pH range of 5.5-7.0 is ideal. Arrowwood viburnum tolerates a wide range, but extremely acidic or alkaline conditions should be amended.

  • Drainage – Good drainage is crucial to prevent waterlogged soil. Arrowwood viburnum can tolerate occasional wet soils but extended saturation causes root rot.

  • Organic matter – Incorporate organic matter like compost or leaf litter to improve nutrient availability, water retention, and drainage.

  • Sun exposure – Arrowwood viburnum thrives in full sun to partial shade. Less sun can limit flowering and fruit production.

With those key factors in mind, let’s explore how to choose, amend, and prepare the right soil for this versatile shrub

Assessing Your Existing Soil

Start by testing your current soil to determine if it meets arrowwood viburnum’s needs or requires amendments. Here are some simple ways to analyze your soil:

  • Examine the soil structure and texture. Loamy soils should be crumbly but cohesive and drain well. Heavy clay is sticky and dense, while sand is loose and gritty.

  • Conduct a simple percolation test by digging a hole, filling it with water, and timing how quickly it drains. Slow drainage indicates compacted or clay soil.

  • Use a soil testing kit or send a sample to a lab to determine pH and nutrient levels. This helps identify deficiencies.

  • Note the site’s sun exposure throughout the day. Lack of sufficient sunlight reduces flowering.

  • Check for signs of poor drainage like puddles or muddy areas. This makes the soil unsuitable without improvement.

Once you understand your native soil properties, you can determine what amendments may be helpful.

Amending Your Soil Accordingly

If your current soil doesn’t meet arrowwood viburnum’s needs, amendments can optimize conditions:

  • For drainage – Incorporate organic matter like compost. For extremely dense clay, add gypsum or small gravel. Plant on slopes to encourage drainage.

  • For pH – Lime raises pH of acidic soils. Sulfur lowers pH of alkaline soils. Mix thoroughly per package instructions.

  • For nutrients – Compost provides nutrients. Test soil to reveal any deficiencies, then supplement with a balanced organic fertilizer.

  • For texture – Blend in sand to lighten heavy soils or peat moss to add moisture retention to sandy soils.

  • For sun exposure – If the site lacks ample sunlight, consider trimming overhanging branches or nearby shrubs and trees to increase light levels.

Amending existing soil is typically more affordable than bringing in new topsoil. But for sites with extremely poor native soil, replacement may be the best option.

Choosing New Topsoil

In some cases where native soil is severely compacted or contaminated, replacing it with quality topsoil may be worth the investment. Here’s what to look for when buying topsoil:

  • Texture – Select loamy topsoil for arrowwood viburnum rather than sandy, clay, or heavily organic peat-based mixes.

  • pH range – Topsoil with a neutral pH around 6.5-7 is optimal. Avoid soil labeled for acid-loving plants like azaleas.

  • Weed/pest free – High-quality topsoil should be free of weed seeds, insects, diseases, and chemical residues.

  • Good organic matter – Topsoil with compost or aged manure provides nutrients. Just avoid overly wood-based soils, which can rob nitrogen.

When installing new topsoil, dig out and remove the existing soil. Replace with a 6-12 inch layer of quality topsoil, blending gently with surrounding soil.

Preparing the Soil for Planting

Once you’ve amended or replaced existing soil as needed, follow these tips to prepare the planting area:

  • Loosen soil to a depth of 12-18 inches using a shovel, auger, or tiller to facilitate root establishment.

  • Rake smooth and shape into a slightly raised mound that slopes down away from the crown.

  • Mix a 2-4 inch layer of aged compost or organic material into the top 4-6 inches of soil to enrich it.

  • Consider incorporating a slow-release organic fertilizer per package rates to provide balanced nutrition.

  • Just before planting, water thoroughly to moisten soil. Arrowwood viburnum should never be planted in dry soil.

Taking the time to create the optimal soil environment pays off with a healthy, thriving arrowwood viburnum shrub that will bring beauty to your landscape for years to come. Monitor soil conditions annually and amend as needed to keep your arrowwood viburnum’s soil in tip-top shape!

arrowwood viburnum shrub soil how to choose the right type

ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.

Spice Girl® Korean spice viburnum. Photo by: Proven Winners.

Looking for an evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous shrub that is low maintenance, deer resistant, and provides attractive foliage, abundant blooms, fall color and winter fruit for wildlife? Viburnums are the answer. With all of that going for them, it’s not hard to see why they’re one the best loved garden shrubs of all time. Learn more about viburnums and find one that fits perfectly in your garden.

Zones 2-11, depending on variety.

There is a wide range of sizes, from a few dwarf varieties like Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’ at just under 3 feet, to large species like V. seiboldii that may reach 20 feet tall. Most viburnums grow as shrubs and have a full-spreading habit; others can be pruned to medium-sized trees or standards.

Full sun to partial shade.

Viburnums offer year-round interest with spring to summer blooms, vibrant fall color (on deciduous types) and colorful winter berries.

Viburnums bloom with two main types of flower heads: Flat-topped clusters similar to lacecap hydrangeas and rounded snowball types. Their sometimes fragrant flowers bloom in shades of white, cream, and pink and are usually tubular or salverform (long, thin tube that widens suddenly to a flat-faced flower) in shape.

Leaves are typically oval to lance-shaped, with entire or toothed edges, and oppositely arranged. They also vary in size, texture and color. Most deciduous varieties display fantastic fall colors of yellow, red or burgundy.

Viburnums are also prized for their showy ornamental fruits that add color and interest in winter, and are an important food source for birds. Fruits are usually round or egg-shaped, and may be red, pink, purple, blue or black. Most viburnums aren’t self-pollinating and will need a little help to produce fruit. Plant 2 or 3 together for cross pollination to stimulate abundant production.

There are many species of viburnum shrubs including Burkwood viburnum (V. x burkwoodii), David viburnum (V. davidii), Korean spice viburnum (V. carlesii), snowball bush (V. opulus), arrowwood viburnum (V. dentatum), doublefile viburnum (V. plicatum), Chindo or sweet viburnum (V. awabuki), and mapleleaf viburnum (V. acerfolium).

Ingestion of the berries or fruits may cause mild stomach upset, but viburnums are not known to be toxic.

Learn more about Lil Ditty® viburnum

Spring or fall are the best times to plant viburnums.

Although the site requirements don’t vary too much between varieties, there may be subtle differences. As a general rule, full sun will produce the best blooms, berries and fall color. Some will do just as well in partial shade, especially some of the thicker-leaved varieties, but keep an eye out for black spot and other foliar diseases. They like to keep their foliage dry, so avoid planting where they might be subject to sprinkler overspray. Good air circulation is important to keep them from developing fungal diseases, but do protect them from drying winter winds.

To transplant a container-grown viburnum bush, dig the planting hole just as deep as the rootball and 2 to 3 times as wide. Loosen any impacted roots gently with your fingers. Place the shrub into the hole so that the top of the rootball is even with the surrounding ground level. Backfill the hole halfway and water it in to settle the bottom layer of soil. Backfill the rest of the way, and make a soil ring to hold water. Water again to settle in the rest of the way. Space according to their mature size.

Not much pruning is required other than what is needed to maintain the shape and health of the shrub. For deciduous varieties, blooms are set in late summer, so any drastic pruning should be done immediately after flowering so next year’s blooms won’t be accidentally cut off. However, cutting back branches that just bloomed or deadheading spent blooms will decrease the amount of fruit produced in late fall and winter. For evergreen varieties, prune in late winter to early spring.

For either type, unsightly, dead or damaged branches can be thinned out any time of year. However, don’t prune or do any thinning when frost is on the way, because the new growth that follows could be damaged.

Viburnum shrubs are quite adaptable, but do prefer organically-rich soil with a pH of 5.6 to 6.6. They also like consistently moist, but well-draining conditions.

A general-purpose fertilizer can be added in spring before new growth appears.

During the first year, newly planted shrubs should be watered deeply and regularly, at least once a week, to help them establish a good root system. The frequency can be reduced once plants are established.

Gray mold, rust, downy mildew, powdery mildew, wood rot, Verticillium wilt, leaf spots, and dieback can occur. Good air circulation and dry foliage are the best defenses against fungal diseases. Pests such as aphids, scale, weevils, Japanese beetles, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and tree hoppers are common.

Are viburnum deer resistant? Deer tend to steer clear of viburnum shrubs and it has an ‘A’ rating (rarely damaged) on the Rutgers deer-resistant plant list.

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FAQ

What type of soil does Arrowwood Viburnum like?

Arrow- wood viburnum prefers loamy, neutral to acid soil with ample moisture, but is adaptable to a range of conditions from dry to fairly wet soil.

What is the best soil for viburnum?

Many species bear ornamental fruits in late summer or fall. They are usually spherical or ovoid and may be red, yellow, blue, or black. Most viburnums grow in any moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Some viburnums prefer dry soil.

Do viburnum like sandy soil?

Viburnum lentago is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of soil types, from well-drained sandy soils to heavy clay soils, and can grow in full sun or partial shade. It is also relatively drought-tolerant once established. In addition to its ornamental value, Viburnum lentago has a number of practical uses.

Do viburnums like acidic soil?

Viburnums will grow in just about any type of soil, but they prefer slightly acidic, moist, but well-drained soil. Prepare the soil for each planting hole by blending equal amounts of Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Trees and Shrubs and existing soil to encourage strong root growth and give your viburnum a great start.

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