How to prune boxwood

When to prune boxwood trees

The best seasons for pruning boxwood trees are spring and autumn. If it is done in summer and winter, the damage to the plants may be greater. Try not to prune boxwood one and a half months before frost, because the branches cannot protect themselves from the cold.

If you want to use the pruned branches of boxwood for cuttings, you can choose branches without diseases and insect pests, and remove the lower branches and leaves. Apply enough water to the soil before cutting, and then insert the treated branches into the prepared soil to a depth of about 3-4 cm.

How to prune boxwood

Pruning during the growing season : Boxwood trees are usually pruned during the growing season, which is summer and autumn. When pruning, the main trunk should be retained to allow the plant to maintain the growth advantage of the top tip and allow the tree to grow taller. If it is a young tree, the side branches at the base can be shortened to retain a small number of buds.

Regular thinning : You can also thin the boxwood at regular intervals. You need to cut off its overgrown branches, overlapping branches, and branches that affect the shape of the tree to reduce nutrient consumption, promote its growth, and ensure its beauty.

If you want to shape the boxwood tree, you need to cut off the main trunk to allow new buds to sprout around the cross section. Then, according to the desired shape, you can tie the branches of the plant, usually with palm fibers, and make it into a cloud shape. Its main trunk can be made into an oblique or lying position as it grows.

Boxwood Pruning Tips

Prune the inner branches : Cut off the weaker inner branches on the trunk. This can not only improve the permeability of the plant, but also save a lot of nutrients.

Pruning leggy branches : Branches that grow too prominently are generally slender and can easily destroy the plant shape, so they also need to be pruned. For leggy branches with poor growth positions and inappropriate directions, you can directly cut them off along the base; but for usable leggy branches, you can take the approach of shortening them.

Pruning dead branches : Plants will also produce dry and dead branches during the growth process. These bad branches will not only affect the appearance of the tree if left on it, but they may also carry pests and diseases, so they also need to be pruned off in time.

Boxwood trees grow fast after pruning

If you want the boxwood tree to grow faster, you can shorten the side branches at the base, retaining a small number of buds, and also retaining the main trunk so that the plant maintains the growth advantage of the top, which can make the tree grow taller.

Boxwood Tree Pruning Tips

1. Boxwood trees are very resistant to pruning and have a strong germination ability. It should be noted that you should not spray them with water after pruning, otherwise it will easily lead to wound infection.

2. If the boxwood tree is not maintained in good light and has poor air circulation after pruning, it is easy to become infected. Therefore, you must pay attention to protection and ventilation after pruning, and you can also expose it to the sun.