The boxwood is one of the most popular topiaries. Here you will find out everything you need to know about the timing, procedure and technique of cutting.
The boxwood (Buxus) can now look back on a long career as a popular topiary. The Buxus, which grows as a shrub or small tree, adorned the famous classic English gardens in countless variations. If it is not cut regularly, it is difficult to imagine the graceful shapes it can take on. Due to its slow growth, it is excellent for cutting into complex shapes and structures. In addition to being patient, there are a few things you should consider in order to achieve the desired result when pruning the boxwood.
When to cut the boxwood?
The perfect time for pruning a boxwood is influenced by two components: on the one hand, the time of year is of course decisive, on the other hand, the prevailing climate plays a major role in determining the right pruning time. The procedure also depends on whether the Buxus is being grown as a topiary or as a hedge.
Pruning boxwood: the right time of year
Boxwood can be pruned from spring to autumn - from April to September. A general distinction is made between shape cuts and grooming cuts. Shape cuts should be made at the beginning of growth in spring. The care cuts, on the other hand, serve to maintain the created shape despite further growth. An even rougher and more radical cut can be made before the shape cut. This is used to fundamentally correct the growth of the boxwood, so that it is cut back into the woody part of the bush.
The following types of cut are to be distinguished:
- Pruning
- Very early in the year (as early as March)
- Before new growth
- Up to the woody part
- Basic shape correction
- Topiary
- Much finer cut than pruning
- From April, as soon as the first budding occurs
- Form is basically defined, small corrections are made
- Grooming cut
- Builds on the topiary
- Can be done several times a year
- At least four weeks since the last cut
- Last topiary in September
Pruning boxwood: timing depending on the growth form
The optimal time for pruning is also to be determined according to which growth form you are aiming for. If the Buxus is only to border a bed as a hedge, it is sufficient to make a one-off pruning in summer (July to August). If the scissors are used to cut more complex shapes or balls, the motto "The more often the better" applies. In this way, branching and the most dense growth of the ornamental topiary are favored. However, as previously mentioned, there is a minimum grace period of four weeks between cuts.
Pruning boxwood: The right weather
The optimal time for pruning a box tree is determined by the time of year as well as the climatic conditions. For example, you should not cut your boxwood in strong sunshine or in rainy weather, as this increases the risk of fungal infestation. A dry day with an overcast sky is ideal for cutting the boxwood.
Tip: To ensure that your boxwood is not damaged by severe pruning, you can provide it with nutrients and strengthen it as a precaution. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer with long-term effect is ideal for this.
How to cut the boxwood?
The boxwood often delights us in geometric shapes in front gardens. Find out below how you can easily create these green works of art yourself with the right tools and the right cutting technique.
Cutting boxwood: The right tool
So that the fine leaves and shoots of the boxwood are not crushed, it is important to always use tools with a sharp blade to cut the boxwood. These can be electrically operated scissors, for example, which, however, are not suitable for finer cutting methods. Also, the cost of acquisition is not insignificant and it is necessarysome practice to be able to handle the electric scissors. Hand hedge trimmers are more suitable when well sharpened for boxwood, especially for the somewhat coarser topiary.
For delicate work, you should use special boxwood shears. These usually have a significantly shorter blade than hand hedge trimmers, so that curves and corners can be cut in a more controlled and precise manner. However, such scissors are only suitable for fine, unwoody shoots that can only be obtained through regular cutting.
Pruning boxwood: How deep to cut?
Unless you have decided on a more radical pruning at the beginning of the year, you should not cut off more than that year's growth of shoots. Deeper cuts do not present the boxwood with any great challenges in terms of re-sprout, but this can take a while and especially in summer the neat appearance of the topiary is damaged by too much reduction. In order to create an even hedge shape, it is better to divide the overall length into shorter sections. First of all, you can be sure that you can make corrections. After all, a few centimeters too much are cut off very quickly. If the book is then too short in one place, you either have an unsightly hole or it has to be shorter everywhere. Therefore: Less is more.
Cutting boxwood: use templates
Geometric shapes are often perceived by the human eye as particularly aesthetic - this is also the case with topiary trees such as boxwood. In the freehand cut, however, only a few can implement precisely fitting geometric figures. A boxwood ball is more of an oval, and the green pyramid with a flat roof should actually be a cuboid with sides of equal length. It is therefore advisable to use templates for cutting geometric growth forms. These are simply stopped and excess must give way. You can easily make a template yourself, for example out of cardboard or wood if you intend to use it more often.
Cutting boxwood with template: Instructions
- Measure radius (=half diameter) or half side length
- Cut out template
- Hold template and start cutting
Fertilization is also essential for the he alth of your bush - you can find out more about box tree fertilizationhere.
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