Boxwood is often used for topiary and high and low hedges. Bed borders are cut in the same way as a box hedge, but at a lower level.
When and how should you trim a boxwood hedge?
Boxwood hedges are best cut from the end of March to the beginning of April and complete all pruning measures by the end of July. Choose cloudy days for pruning to protect leaves from burns. A distinction is made between planting cuts, training cuts, maintenance cuts and rejuvenation cuts.
The right cutting date
It is best to cut the boxwood, which is very easy to cut, from the end of March onwards, and in cooler regions from the beginning of April, so that there is only a short period of time between cutting and new growth. This prevents the resulting wounds from drying out and thus preventing infection with fungi or other pathogens. All pruning measures should be completed by the end of July. A later cut does not make sense, otherwise the new shoots will no longer mature sufficiently. However, if you cut the box too early, the new shoots that develop after the pruning can freeze in a late frost. It is important - especially in summer - to choose periods with cloudy skies for cutting. This means that after cutting, leaves that were previously in the shade can adapt to the more intense light and do not burn.
The different types of cuts
So that the boxwood hedge grows densely and keeps its shape over the years, you should cut it twice a year in the first few years. Later, one cut per year is sufficient.
Plant cutting
The young boxwoods should be cut back when they are planted. Shorten the annual shoots by about a third and trim the plants to the shape you want later. By planting pruning, you permanently stimulate the growth of the shoots below the interfaces, so that strong branching and thus denser growth is achieved.
Educational Cut
Treat a hedge in stages and give it the desired shape right from the start. Leave a few centimeters of new growth with each cut until the desired final size is achieved. With a few simple tools you can make an exact cut in no time: Lean a board the length of the desired hedge height lengthwise against the hedge. It marks the upper cutting edge where you cut horizontally. Then place a narrow board on the now cut top that defines the cut edges for the sides. Using two holes, you can fix the board in the ground with two rods. If you prune twice a year at the beginning, the hedge will branch out better.
Conservation cut
Once the desired final size is reached, one cut per year is usually enough. It is best to prune between June and August, as subsequent new growth occurs slowly and sparsely at this time. However, you should no longer prune in autumn, as new shoots will not mature until winter.
Rejuvenation cut
If boxwood hedges are too large or too old, cut them back to a quarter of the intended final height in the spring before budding and rebuild them in annual steps, as with training. The rejuvenation does not occur all at once, but rather in stages over several years.
Tip
Hedges should always be trapezoidal, i.e. H. with a wide base and narrowing towards the top. This also applies to boxwood hedges to prevent the lower areas from becoming bald due to a lack of light.