Trimming boxwood. How and when to prune boxwood?

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Trimming boxwoodstimulates this shrub to thicken and form a compact habit. Properlypruned boxwoodworks great as a representative element in the garden, formed into a ball or as a low border separating the bed from the lawn or path. Seehow to prune boxwoodso that it thickens quickly and creates the forms we want and what is the bestterm for trimming boxwoodHere's everything you need to know about pruning boxwood !


Trimming boxwood into a ball

Evergreen boxwood is an undemanding evergreen shrub that responds very well to pruning. Thanks to this, it can be easily formed into hedges, borders or artificial forms. Properboxwood pruningallows this plant to fit perfectly into a French-style garden.

When to prune boxwood?

It is best to use sharp and properly maintained scissors to trim the boxwood.The deadline for trimming boxwoodis usually twice a year - in spring and in the second half of summer. More preciselywhen to prune boxwoodwe will discuss depending on the method and technique of pruning boxwood.

Trimming boxwood - forming cut

Intensivepruning the boxwoodstimulates it to thicken, that is, to produce a large number of young growths. This cut is called forming cut.


Boxwood can be formed into various shapes
Fig. pxhere.com

Boxwood formationconsists in shortening the young growth by half. In the first year after planting boxwood, shorten its branches by the mentioned half. We do the same in March of the following year. In the following years, at the beginning of the growing season, shorten too long twigs above the young side shoots and remove all dry shoots.

Trimming the boxwood to the border

It usually takes 2-3 years to form a boxwood border . In March, before planting boxwood, you need to trim the roots of the bush and shorten its shoots in half. In June, repeat the cut to thicken the bush at the base. Trim the shoots with scissors on the surface and side walls of the fringes to knock out numerous shoots at the base. Thentrim the boxagain in August or September.

The formedboxwood borderin the following years of cultivation should be regularly trimmed twice a season.In May or at the beginning of June, the wire should be stretched horizontally between the stakes at the final height of the border, touching its wall, and the boxwood should be trimmed keeping the planned border width. The secondterm for boxwood pruningfor the vegetation border is August.

Trimming boxwood for a hedge

In the spring of the first yearafter planting the boxwoodshorten the shoots to a height of 25 cm from the ground. In June, shorten the shoots again, this time at a height of 50 cm from the ground, and trim the side branches that extend beyond the intended width of the hedge. In the following yearstrimming the box for a hedgeis performed on two dates: in May and August, gradually increasing the height and width of the planned hedge.

Trimming boxwood into a ball

Forming a box into a ballmay take 4-5 years or more, depending on the planned size of the ball. After planting a plant with a root ball, in November or March, shorten the twigs 25-30 cm from the ground, starting to form a ball.
In the following years, we doboxwood pruning in Mayor early June and August or September. Gradually enlarging the bush, according to the strength of shoot growth, until a perfect ball is obtained. By shortening the boxwood shoots several times during the growing season, as soon as they reach 5 cm in length, we will ensure an impeccable shape of the ball.


Boxwood trimmed into borders and balls

Trimming boxwood into artificial forms

In November or March, plants with a root ball are planted next to the wire skeleton. Even then, the twigs should be shortened by 1/3 of their height and tied to the structure, giving them a different direction. Thepruning of the boxwoodis done in June or July, when we shorten the shoots to thicken the lower part of the bush. Throughout the growth periodwe tie the boxwood twigsto the construction.
In the following years, we repeatboxwood pruningto get as many branches as possible and gradually reach the desired volume of the bush.From spring, throughout the growing season, we attach the twigs to the metal structure as they grow. After obtaining the desired form, repeat the cut regularly, preventing it from distorting.

How to become confident in pruning plants?

If you are unsure how to cut or simply afraid to do it, the fantastic book "Cutting School" will help you. Thanks to it, you will gain confidence in pruning plants and learn to cut plants so that they grow according to your expectations. After reading this book, your approach to pruning plants will probably change completely!

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