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You can see more pictures on the companion post here in SHRUBS. But a direct question has to do with trimming boxwoods. They range in size from edge hedges about 18" tall to one that's about 8' tall and 'climbs' the wall of the house. When I first moved in to this house, they were all trimmed to 'perfection' and so tightly formed that no sun whatsoever was reaching inside the bushes ... the foliage was 2" green and then nothing. In addition, many were overwhelmed by ground ivy that had been allowed to grow up and into the branches. I removed all the ivy, then removed all the dead and dying limbs, and finally selectively removed some of the canopy creating a swiss cheese effect that I thought would encourage some internal growth and allow air circulation, etc.
Is it healthy to use a hedge trimmer to shear them into shape? I have all the time in the world to do it right, and have no objection to labor-intensive activity. Hard work is its own reward! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Here in forums
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Jun 13, 10 at 7:39
| again ... i think i mentioned this yesterday ... what is your goal ... if you liked the shape they were in ... there was no real reason to open the top to grow interior leaves ... take a moment to look up into the largest tree on your property .... with the trunk at your neck ... there are most likely... no leaves on the interior ... most trees/shrubs/conifers .... simply do not grow leaves in the full shade interior of the canopy .... no different than your boxwoods ... you would not top a tree to grow leaves in there ... and of course.. most likely .... there are exceptions .... like a norway maple ... i am glad you are enjoying the new garden.. keep coming back.. we will get you where you want to go.. sooner or later .... ken |
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- Posted by onthebrinck NJ (My Page) on Sun, Jun 13, 10 at 10:26
| Thanks, Ken. Yep, understood ... so if I like many of the boxwoods to have a more geometric and formal look then it's OK to shear them on a regular basis. I think that would set off the more free form of the laurels, hollies and azaleas. |
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