Trimming Boxwood Made Simple

Although boxwood can be trimmed into any shape you like, you might think of square, box-shaped hedges as the most traditional trimming style. Sometimes the box-shape is used for a high privacy structure, between driveways or yards. Smaller box-shaped hedges are used for separations in landscaping or just as decorative borders. The traditional box-shape of a row of boxwood bushes is not difficult if a few rules are followed.

Hedge clippers
Hand clippers
Garden gloves
Safety goggles
Measuring tape

Instructions

- 1
  Pick late spring to do your boxwood trimming, after all the new growth is completed for the season. Put on gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself.
- 2
  Remove any dead or damaged limbs. Cut these limbs with your hedge or hand clippers, depending on the size of the limb. Place the clippers below the dead or damaged part of the limb and just above where a smaller limb sprouts out.
- 3
  Remove older limbs, with your clippers, within the boxwood, if the bush is becoming too dense. Notice if the branches within the bush are interfering with the growth of other branches. The plant needs air circulation to encourage new growth.
- 4
  Trim any outgrown shoots that do not match the overall box-shape. This should be easy to discern if trimming has been done on a regular basis.
- 5
  Measure up from the ground to the height you would like the boxwood top, if the hedge is overgrown. Do this by clipping an indentation at the end of the hedge, enough so you can see the clip as a marker. Repeat this marker clipping every 4 or 5 feet. Now you have the height of the boxwood marked.
- 6
  Cut evenly across the top of the hedge, with your long garden clippers. Create a flat top all along the hedge row.
- 7
  Clip any branches at the sides or ends that grow outwards, until you have a box shape to your hedge.

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