No tree gets a visit from secateurs as often as the boxwood. After all, its easy malleability is the main reason why it is allowed to grace our gardens. However, in order for it to get the desired shape and keep it for a long time, it must regularly and at the right time leave part of the green shoots. Its topiary is an art in itself, requiring a steady hand and expertise. But practice also leads to mastery.
cut boxwood
The first year remains scissor-free
A box tree grows very slowly from the start. In the first year of planting, it also needs some of its energy to grow. As a result, new growth is so modest that there is hardly anything to cut. However, in order to give it a shape, there must be enough green mass. That's why you should leave a freshly planted specimen alone and only following year swing the scissors.
time
When should the Buxus sempervirens be cut?
There is no best time for the annual cut or cuts. However, the rough time frame is clearly defined and should be adhered to for the benefit of the boxwood.
- April to September is the ideal period
- after September no more pruning should be done
- New shoots would have little time to mature before winter
The ideal day for pruning measures
Long periods of rain are unsuitable for cutting. Shortened shoots provide open cuts through which pathogens can easily enter. The humidity also increases the risk of disease. The result could be the unsightly death of shoots.
Even on very hot and dry days you should not cut. The exposed older leaves are no longer used to the hot sun and can burn easily. There is also a risk of burns in autumn, when the temperatures are low but the sun's rays are high.
frequency
How often does boxwood need to be cut?
Tree species, quality and the desired shape are the parameters that decide on further pruning measures. Once a year every boxwood should be pruned. However, there are a number of reasons why you should use secateurs more frequently throughout the year.
- some geometric shape cuts require a second pass
- three cuts ensure an even better result
- young trees first have to form plenty of branches
- a third cut a year is also beneficial for them
tip: With very detailed figures, you should shorten the shoots more often. Every four weeks is a good rhythm.
topiary
The first cut
The first cutting of the year is also called topiary referred to, although ultimately all cuts also serve to preserve the shape. First, the Buxus sempervirens is given enough time to form fresh shoots. Scissors are used in the middle of this first growth phase.
- from May to mid-June
- depending on the actual budding
If only one pruning is planned per year, it should preferably be done in July.
care cut
The second cut
The second cut is called care cut designated. However, since it is based on the first cut, it also serves to create a clear shape.
- at the beginning of September at the latest
- don't cut later
- prefer to skip it if you don't have time
promote branching
The third cut
The third grip on the scissors is actually a intercut and is inserted between the two previously described cuts. It is not a must, but promotes branching and forms the contours. If you can time it, don't go without it.
- The end of July is the best time
The right tool
The boxwood can easily be brought into the desired shape by hand. However, the typical secateurs are less suitable because the shoots get caught between the cutting edges. The so-called sheep shears is ideal for this wood, as the edges run parallel to each other. The scissors are easy to open again every time.
The more filigree the boxwood figure is to be, the shorter the scissors used must be. Electric or battery-powered hedge trimmers can also be used for hedges.
Cutting boxwood: instructions
The step-by-step approach
The boxwood tolerates cuts in the previous year's wood without any problems. However, since the optics are the most important thing with this tree, only the fresh sprouting be shortened. This is the only way to avoid sparsely leafy areas.
Attack the desired shape as soon as the new shoots are a few centimeters long. Gradually approach the desired shape by only cutting off a little at first. With each further step you can outline the contour more and more clearly.
The limits of topiary
What form the boxwood should take depends entirely on your wishes and requirements.
- plain, square hedge
- Spheres, spirals, cones
- other figures
There are no limits to the imagination when it comes to design. Only the implementation needs to be skillful. A square hedge is easy to do and pruning errors can still be corrected. Complex figures are more demanding and not feasible for every hobby gardener. No shape should fail on the boxwood, because it is characterized by the following features:
- dense and strongly branched growth
- good cutting tolerance
- Sprouts from new and old wood
cutting aids
A good eye alone is not always enough to get a clean shape when cutting. It can be helpful to make templates beforehand. If you want a boxwood ball, you can, for example, draw a semicircle on solid cardboard and cut it out with a wallpaper knife. The template is placed on the boxwood and moved. In this way, all protruding shoots can be cut off one by one.