| Boxwood can be sheared or left natural. For a formal hedge shear the new growth to produce the maximum number of densly-growing branches. Boxwood can also be thinned and hand pruned for a more casual looking hedge or shrub. In general, your boxwoods can be pruned in late winter while still dormant for heavy trimming, or sheared at anytime for neatness. If yours are really overgrown, start by shearing them back now by a few inches and again in mid-summer and again in early fall. Late next winter prune them back again. By next spring they should be in better shape and by pruning only a little at a time you won't shock the plants or distress them in any way. |
