What a great way to sum up how nannyberries act! I totally relate to the moody teenager comparison. In my experience, patience plays a huge part with these Viburnums. Mine spent its first two years looking like it was stuck in neutral, but then one spring it just took off—branches stretched, new leaves everywhere, and even some flowers!
Honestly, I think these shrubs are slow to establish because they put a lot of energy into root development before visible growth happens above ground. If yours looks healthy but isn’t growing much, that’s probably what’s going on.
One thing that made a difference for me: mulch. I added a thick layer of shredded leaf mulch (but any organic mulch works) to keep the soil cool and moist, which I think the roots appreciated. I also checked the soil pH—nannyberries do best between pH 6-7, so if yours is way off, that could slow growth.
Final tip: avoid heavy pruning in the first few years. They seem to resent it when they’re young, but once established, you can shape them a bit more. Hang in there—eventually yours will “grow up” and probably start judging the rest of your garden, too!
