Pruning boxwood

A boxwood is a popular hedge and ornamental plant that stays green all year round. To keep this plant in top shape, regular pruning is necessary. In this article we provide extensive information on the possibilities for pruning boxwood and the costs involved.

What does a boxwood prune cost?

The cost of pruning trees or shrubs and therefore also a boxwood is roughly between £45 and £75 per hour. The total cost of trimming a boxwood hedge depends mainly on the size of the hedge and the time it takes to trim it.

The table below shows the average cost of trimming a boxwood.

When should you prune a boxwood?

A boxwood should be pruned at least twice a year, but for best results it is recommended to prune 4 times a year. The best time to prune is late May, early September and possibly a few times in between these months. The more often you prune, the fuller your boxwood will become.

It is best to prune a boxwood when it is cloudy outside. Otherwise, it is possible that the sun will burn the leaves. If you do want to prune on a sunny day, make sure you spray the boxwood with water first and put a cloth over the boxwood when you are done to prevent the leaves from burning.

To prune boxwood correctly, it is important to use a good hedge trimmer. This allows you to prune quickly and efficiently. Many people choose an electric hedge trimmer because it gets into hard-to-reach areas more easily and requires less power. Make sure you always choose a hedge trimmer that is suitable for trimming boxwood.

Do you want to trim them yourself or hire a professional?

Do you want to use hedge trimmers yourself or would you rather leave the trimming of your boxwood to a gardener?

If you choose to trim your boxwood yourself, you will save money and have more control over the process. However, it is important to know the right way of pruning to keep the plant healthy and beautiful. Make sure you have the right tools and inform yourself well about the right pruning techniques. You can do this, for example, by watching online tutorials or by taking a course.

If you decide to have your garden done by a specialist, you won’t have to worry about whether you are doing it right. Specialists have the right tools and knowledge to prune boxwood correctly. Moreover, you save time by outsourcing the maintenance.

When making the choice between pruning yourself or hiring a gardener, it is especially important to take into account your budget, availability and how much control you want to have over the process.

How to prune yourself?

How to prune a boxwood depends on the shape it grows in. A hedge has a different way of pruning than a bulb or other pruning shape. Below we give some examples of how to prune a boxwood hedge or bulb.

Priming a boxwood hedge

Start by wetting the boxwood hedge. Then cut the sides, from top to bottom. This is followed by the top of the boxwood hedge. Possibly use a ladder or stairs if you can’t reach it properly. When you have finished pruning, you can fertilise the boxwood for the best result.

Priming a boxwood bulb

Start here too by wetting the boxwood. Then prune the top of the bulb first. Make sure you can reach the top of the bulb so that you can trim it nicely all round. Stop regularly during pruning to check the shape from a distance. When you have finished, you can fertilise the boxwood for the best result.

Buxus pruning shapes

There are many different ways of pruning a boxwood. The most common shape is a hedge, but round boxwood or cloud-shaped boxwood is also popular. It is important to note that the more often you prune a boxwood, the fuller it becomes.

Below are some examples of boxwood pruning shapes.

Buxus hedge: This is the most common form of boxwood. A boxwood hedge should be pruned regularly to maintain a tight shape.

Buxus bulb: This pruning shape is commonly chosen for loose boxwood. In this case, the boxwood is pruned to give it a nice round shape.

Buxus cloud: This pruning shape is a bit more creative and gives the boxwood a playful cloud shape.

Saving tips

The most obvious saving tip for boxwood pruning is of course not to outsource it to a gardener, but to do it yourself.

Do you choose to leave the pruning to a skilled gardener? Then it is always wise to ask for several quotations. That way you will know exactly what price various gardeners charge and what work is included.

Tips for trimming boxwood

Do it yourself? Here are some handy tips to take away.

• Plan your pruning well: Pruning boxwood is best done when it is cloudy and not when the sun is shining. The sun can burn the leaves.
• Use the right tools: Make sure you have a good pair of hedge shears or boxwood scissors and a bucket of water to clean your scissors from time to time.
• Learn the right pruning techniques: Pruning a boxwood is best done with sharp hedge shears. There are different techniques you can use, such as trimming a hedge or modelling a boxwood bulb.
• Prim regularly: The more often you prune a boxwood, the fuller it becomes. This means you need to prune less often, saving costs and time in the long run.
• Fertilise: Fertilising after pruning is a good idea. This way, the new fertiliser pellets can be used immediately for the development of new leaves.
• Keep in mind growth: Boxwood grows most in spring and summer. It is therefore wise to prune boxwood more often during these seasons.
• Choose an electric hedge trimmer: An electric hedge trimmer costs more than manual shears, but it allows you to reach hard-to-reach areas more easily. It also requires less power and time.

Frequently asked questions