Post some photos please.

hi

its time for REJUVENATION PRUNING ...

rather than tying them up ..

see link ... after you read thru a few.. you ought to get the idea ... and can come back with more specific questions ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

hi donnaroe,
I have seen chicken wire cut to size and wrapped around upright plants like taxus, junipers, topiary etc. You might also think about a loosely woven fabric or netting. It will be hidden as the new growth grows through it.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Boxwood Society

Thanks, all. I will try to post a photo tomorrow.

I finally took some photos of our terribly overgrown boxwoods. Maybe this will help with just how to selectively prune these, and then tie up/support them, so that they keep somewhat of an upright shape. Now they are messy looking. Thanks to anyone who can help, as we really need to so something about this!

Here is a link that might be useful: upright boxwood

Another photo

Here is a link that might be useful: upright boxwood

Another photo

Bumping up, to see if anyone can tell me how much to prune from these boxwoods, and how.

Bumping up, to see if anyone can tell me how much to prune from these boxwoods, and how.

donnaroe, I completely misunderstood your initial post. I thought that you were asking about upright, fastigiate or columnar boxwood.
Now that you have posted a pic it looks like you have American Box doing what American Box does. We see them often around large federal buildings and college campuses. This is not the dward English or edgeing box.
ps, the leaves are opposite, not alternate right?

Thank you, sam, for answering. I just went and looked, and yes the leaves are opposite, not alternate. Gosh, you really know your boxwood! I did not know what kind they were. I only know that they were about a foot tall when I bought them over 20 years ago.

So, what do you think we should do with them? If you don't think they need to be pruned, then I would like to go in and clean out the dead leaves that have worked their way into the interior over the years, prune out the very few pieces of branches that are brown, and then tie them in a few places to give them a more tidy look. If you think this is a good plan, should I cut some garden hose, and then put some sort of roping inside of that to protect the bark and support them this way? What type of rope/cord should I use which won't degrade in the weather?

Never had a boxwood but to me they look beautiful. Nature is doing a great job.