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Pruning round boxwood?
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Posted by
sue36 Z5 Maine (
My Page) on
Wed, Mar 17, 10 at 11:33
| I have six round Green Mountain boxwood in my front garden bed (faces east). They were decent sized when I bought them (I think about $70 each). They were planted summer of 2008, and I didn't prune them in 2009 except for the rare dead twig or one that was just sticking out crazy.
I want to keep them nice and round, but am unsure how to prune them. Some sites say to use hedge trimmer, basically shearing them. Others say not to go that because it cuts the leaves and you end up with grayed/dried edges. I guess in that case you just cut individual branches, trying to maintain a round shape.
Thoughts? Also, the websites say to prune in "late winter". I assume now qualifies? They are still a little brassy looking, if that matters. Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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| do you have the technology to get a pic or two.. while it has no leaves.. and perhaps i can photoshop some suggestions??? pruning is not all that hard.. once you learn how to do it ... and then suck up the courage to actually attempt it ... ken |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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| I clip my box shapes with hand shears (I don't have a hedge trimmer.) It would take you forever with secateurs. You aren't really pruning, you are shaping into a ball, so there're no decisions to make about whether to cut a particular twig off or not. The leaves are very small so even if you get the odd brown edge it barely shows. That advice is more relevant to larger leaved shrubs like cherry laurel. It's actually very easy. The hardest bit is keeping the sphere even all over. Box roots very easily from cuttings so you can use some of the trimmings to produce new plants if you want to. Ken, my boxes are evergreeen so never without leaves. |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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| evergreen.. duh .. let me just call that brain cell dead.. lol ... my bad ... i read boxwood.. and pictured privet ... ken |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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- Posted by sue36 Z5 Maine (My Page) on
Wed, Mar 17, 10 at 15:39
| I guess I will just shear them then. Not really looking forward to this, it is going to be a lot of work, but I want to keep them tidy. Thanks, for the help. |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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| How big are they? Maybe I'm imagining them too small? What diameter? My box cones (height about 2.5 feet) take less than 5 minutes each to shear. I do it when I feel like it during a wander around the garden. |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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- Posted by sue36 Z5 Maine (My Page) on
Thu, Mar 18, 10 at 14:41
| I'd say they are about the same size as yours, 2 1/2' or so. They definitely are not fast growers, but they are looking a little shaggy. |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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| Ok - and you have 6? Half an hour's work I would say then. Just get at it and I'm sure you'll see it's easier than you think. Mine get trimmed a couple of times a year. |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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| I agree that good hand shears are the best tool for a professional looking job. The most important thing is that the blades be SHARP, so when selecting the instrument for the job, buy a good tool that can hold up to many sharpening sessions. |
RE: Pruning round boxwood?
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- Posted by sue36 Z5 Maine (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 23, 10 at 11:04
| Thanks. I think I need to get new shears, the ones I have just aren't sharp enough (and they are at least 40 years old, they were my grandfather's). |
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