The common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) grows on almost any soil, as long as it is not acidic. The slow-growing shrub likes the sun, but also thrives in shady locations without any problems. It tolerates a frequently repeated cut very well and is therefore ideal for cut hedges and a topiary.
Boxwood can be pruned several times a year
When are the best cutting dates?
The best time to prune boxwood is between the end of March / beginning of April and July. If you cut back too early, the new shoots can freeze to death in late frosts. On the other hand, if the cut is made too late, the young shoots will no longer mature and will dry out over the winter. Choose cloudy days for the pruning so that the shaded leaves, which are now exposed to the sun, can slowly adapt to the new light conditions and do not burn.
Cutting dates in the overview
It is best to cut boxwood on these dates:
- February to March (free of frost)
- Hedge: May to June (first cut)
- Hedge: August to September (second cut)
In principle, you should choose a date for the first cut as early as possible in the year, as this makes it easier to keep the box tree moth in check. The pest hibernates in a fine web inside the box tree and, weather permitting, often starts eating as early as the beginning of March. However, if you cut in good time before the caterpillars hatch (remove webs inside the bush!), then the danger is averted for the time being.
Cut boxwood correctly - when and how?
Boxwood should be cut back once or twice a year, if possible, so that it branches out vigorously and compact, dense growth is achieved. Use mechanical pruning shears for cutting so as not to damage leaves and shoots unnecessarily. 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 sphere or a pyramid lies in the dense branching inside the wood and in the targeted accumulation of sap in the lower area of the wood. To do this, shorten the box several times a year for the first two to three years, but always leave a few centimeters of new growth. The barrages created in this way have a permanent 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 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 the branches by a third to a half. Then, also in early spring, cut off the overly long branches above young branches to get the desired shape of the boxwood. Take this opportunity to remove diseased or dead wood as well.
Cutting a boxwood hedge - That's how it's done
The first pruning of the planned boxwood hedge takes place between November and March when the hedge is planted: Larger bushes are cut off 25 to 30 centimeters above the ground to promote branching at the base of the bushes. The following summer, between June and July, cut the branches again, this time twice as high above the ground. Also shorten them in width; in this way the hedge will become denser before the onset of winter. In subsequent years, cut the shoots a little higher above the ground each year, first between May and June when the new shoots appear, and then again between August and September. Depending on their strength, 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, between November and March, cut the boxwood branches into a spherical shape at a height of 25 to 30 centimeters above the ground. Shorten the shoots a second time in the same year, ideally between June and July. In the four to five years that follow, cut the box further into a ball - in May to June, when the first shoots sprout, and between August and September. Let the branches grow a few centimeters evenly in all directions every year until the desired size is reached. Then cut the Kugelbuchs several times every year from May, whenever the young shoots have become five centimeters longer. So it keeps its spherical shape.
Rejuvenate older boxwood
Older box plants often lose shoots and form brooms. To rejuvenate, divert thicker branches to side shoots inside the bush in early April. Leave the cones to encourage new growth. Remove no more than a quarter of the older shoots at a time so that there are enough leaves to form reserve substances. If necessary, continue the rejuvenation moderately in the next few years. However, never make this cut too early in the year, otherwise shoots or even the whole plant will dry up.
tips
When making the cut, make sure that cuts are not visible.