If the box has become too big or hasn't been cut for too long, it's time to cut it down heavily. Like many other trees, the boxwood sprouts again from the old wood.
Can you cut back a boxwood a lot?
A boxwood can be cut back heavily, but it should not be put “on the stick”. Cut it back by a maximum of a third. Growth from old wood takes a long time, so it is advisable to cut off mainly new shoots and carry out the pruning in early spring.
Uncut boxwood aged
Box trees look best when they have dense, well-branched growth. However, they can only achieve this through regular pruning, which always brings the plants back into shape. However, if they are not cut, they will begin to grow bald from the inside after a few years. This in turn means that the bush falls apart more and more and is no longer as close together.
Radical cut for the unsightly box
A radical pruning can help and trim the out-of-shape box again. However, there are a few rules that need to be observed, as boxwood only grows out of old wood with great difficulty. If you set the bush back too much, it will look quite unsightly for a few years before it develops fresh shoots again.
- If possible, do not put Buchs back “on the stick”.
- Instead, cut it back by a maximum of a third.
- The new growth from the old wood takes a very long time.
- If possible, only cut off the new shoots.
- If you want the box to grow and become larger, leave some of the new shoot on the bush.
- Fertilize and water your boxwood after cutting so that it can recover quickly and develop new shoots.
- Mulch to retain moisture in the soil longer and prevent drought damage.
Do not use electric scissors (€84.00 on Amazon) for pruning, as they will crush the leaves and shoots of the bush. The resulting injuries provide an ideal gateway for fungi and other pathogens.
When is the right time to cut?
In general, you should be careful of fungi as pathogens. Every time the tree is pruned, it runs the risk of becoming infected by fungal pathogens. To prevent this, follow these safety instructions:
- Never prune when it rains.
- Always use sharp and disinfected pruning tools.
- Don't prune too late in the year.
In principle, boxwood can be pruned between April and September, but a much earlier date is recommended for radical pruning: If possible, grab the scissors before budding in early spring so that the tree can sprout quickly and develop new shoots can.
Tip
Early pruning also has a certain protective effect against infection with boxwood shoot dieback or the boxwood moth.