The common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) grows in almost any soil as long as it is not acidic. The slow-growing shrub likes sun, but also thrives in shady locations. It tolerates repeated cutting very well and is therefore ideal for hedges and topiary.
When is the best time to prune a boxwood?
Cutting boxwood is optimal between February to March (frost-free), May to June (first hedge trimming) and August to September (second hedge trimming). Avoid pruning too early or late to prevent frost damage and drying out of the shoots.
When are the best editing dates?
You should ideally cut boxwood between the end of March / beginning of April and July. If pruned too early, the new shoots can freeze in late frosts. However, if the cut is done too late, the young shoots no longer mature and dry out over the winter. Choose cloudy days for pruning so that the shade leaves that are now exposed to the sun can slowly adapt to the new lighting conditions and do not burn.
Cutting dates at a glance
It is best to cut boxwood on these dates:
- February to March (frost-free)
- Hedge: May to June (first cut)
- Hedge: August to September (second cut)
Basically, you should choose a date for the first cut as early as possible in the year, as this makes it easier to keep the boxwood moth at bay. The pest hibernates in a fine web inside the boxwood and, provided the weather is right, often begins feeding heavily from the beginning of March. However, if you cut in time before the caterpillars hatch (remove the webs inside the bush!), the danger is averted for now.
Cut boxwood correctly – when and how?
Boxwood should be cut back once or twice a year if possible so that it branches vigorously and achieves compact, dense growth. When cutting, use mechanical secateurs (€14.00 on Amazon) to avoid unnecessarily injuring leaves and shoots. Always keep the tool parallel to the area you are trimming.
Why regular pruning is so important
The secret of a dense hedge or a topiary such as a ball or a pyramid lies in the dense branching inside the tree and in the targeted accumulation of sap in the lower area of the tree. To do this, shorten the box several times a year in the first two to three years, but always leave a few centimeters of new growth. The barrages created in this way have a lasting effect on the sap flow and promote branching.
When and how to prune a boxwood
When planting the boxwood between November and March, shorten all branches by a third to a half. If you received the box with bare roots, remove a few centimeters from each end. The next pruning follows in the following spring between February and March, when you cut back all branches by a third to half. Then, in early spring, cut off the overly long branches above young branches in order to get the desired shape of the boxwood. Also take this opportunity to remove any diseased or dead wood.
Cutting the boxwood hedge – this is how it’s done
The first pruning of the planned boxwood hedge takes place when it is planted between November and March: larger bushes are cut off at a height of 25 to 30 centimeters above the ground in order to promote branching at the base of the bushes. The following summer, between June and July, cut the branches again, this time twice above the ground. Also shorten their width; In this way, the hedge will be thicker before the onset of winter. In subsequent years, cut the shoots a little higher above the ground every year, first between May and June when the new shoots appear, and then again between August and September. Depending on their thickness, the bushes should be allowed to grow five to ten centimeters in height until they have reached their final height.
When and how to shape a boxwood into a ball
When planting, cut the boxwood branches into a spherical shape at a height of 25 to 30 centimeters above the ground between November and March. Shorten the shoots a second time in the same year, ideally between June and July. In the four to five years that follow, you continue to trim the box into a ball - in May to June, when the first shoots emerge, and between August and September. Allow the branches to grow a few centimeters longer in all directions every year until the desired size is reached. Then cut the Kugelbuchs several times every year from May onwards, whenever the young shoots have become five centimeters longer. This is how it keeps its spherical shape.
Rejuvenate older boxwood
In older box plants, shoots often become bald and form brooms. To rejuvenate, redirect thicker branches to side shoots inside the bush at the beginning of April. Leave cones in place to encourage new growth. Remove no more than a quarter of the older shoots at a time so that enough leaves remain to form reserves. If necessary, continue tapering in moderation over the next few years. However, never make this cut too early in the year, otherwise shoots or even the entire plant will dry out.
Tip
When making the cut, make sure that the interfaces are not visible if possible.
