The Clippers Used to Trim Boxwoods

Hedge Clippers

• For those who like to keep it simple, hedge clippers are an excellent, inexpensive choice for trimming boxwoods and other shrubs. Hedge clippers resemble a giant pair of scissors, but you use one hand on each handle to operate them. If you have a small section of boxwoods, hedge clippers will do the job and you'll get a good workout. If you have a long stretch of boxwoods, trimming them with hedge clippers will require plenty of time and effort.

Gas-Powered Trimmers

• Gas-powered hedge trimmers reduce some of the work of trimming boxwoods, but they have their drawbacks. These trimmers are often heavy, noisy and expensive. They must be started with a pull mechanism like a gas-powered lawn mower and, as you work, you'll be breathing in gas fumes. Due to their high price tag and drawbacks, gas-powered hedge trimmers are a poor choice for most home gardeners and are typically left to professional landscapers.

Electric-Powered Trimmers

• For most home gardeners looking for a powered hedge trimmer, an electric model should meet their needs without breaking their budget. Electric trimmers can be either corded or cordless. According to Consumer Reports, corded models offer more power than cordless models, but cordless models allow you the freedom to trim where there is no convenient power source. These trimmers are lightweight, quiet and will suffice for most home gardeners.

When to Trim

• Once you've selected your trimmers, you'll need to use them at the right time of year. Trimming in the wrong season can invite pests and disease into the wounds you create when you trim. Because trimming encourages boxwoods to put on new growth, doing this chore too late in the year will cause the new growth to be damaged by winter weather. The Clemson Cooperative Extension recommends trimming boxwoods in early June to keep the plants healthy.