HEDGING > BOX > PRUNING
IN THIS GUIDE
BOXWOOD GUIDES
Box BlightFeedingPruning
Box is popular for hedge and topiary human body in the UK and can be a versatile plant to utilise in a garden .
However , while this plant is well suited to many of our gardens , it is also susceptible to a orbit of problems , including box blight and box caterpillars .
The problems to which it is prone make it especially important to keep box as respectable as potential and to verify we do everything we should with every chemical element of its care .
A healthy box is less likely to succumb to any problem and more likely to withstand any publication that do uprise when growing this works in a garden .
Pruning is one of the thing that we all need to make certain that we get right when it comes to growing these plants in our gardens .
When To Prune Box
When you should cut box very much depend on the geezerhood of the Buxus plant in question and on the heading of the pruning .
There are three chief type of pruning that you might believe about if you are cut back box .
The first of these isestablishment pruningon young box industrial plant , which is normally carried out in May , with perhaps some further oeuvre between then and September .
The second ismaintenance pruningto maintain the shape and form of box that has become prove in the garden .
This maintenance pruning is well behave out in August or September .
The terminal type of pruning isrenovation pruningon an old specimen or hedgerow that has become neglected .
heavily pruning for renovation is usually carried out in May .
Establishment Pruning On Young Buxus
The goal of establishment cut for young loge trees is to encourage bushy increment and replete out the form of the hedging or topiary that we desire .
First of all , when the box plant are young , the prow should be foreshorten back by one - third of their duration in May to promote them to bush out .
Potentially , further trim might also be undertaken on these young flora between May and August for work and gear box to its desired chassis , size of it and form .
“ Traditionally , Buxus is snip throughout the summer to assert a stiff bang-up , nip off appearance , ” explain Bill Irving from Boxtrees Nursery .
“ However , we urge minimum trim in previous summer when increase has slowed , as we have found this keep down the risk of infection of box blight .
“ Looser - raise Buxus seems much less susceptible to pests and diseases . ”
Darren Lerigo from the European Boxwood and Topiary Society concord with this method , especially when pruning for elude :
“ Cut less often , once a year is ok , and get your timings right , prune in September , ” he says .
“ The 2d hot flash of growth will have finish up at this time , so what you rationalize will stay looking pristine all through the wintertime , leaving you with a uncontaminating , snip flavor for 6 months . ”
Maintenance Pruning For Mature Box
Mature box plants are best trim down to keep them in form in the later summer .
It is expert to do so then , as by this point the new shoots should have harden off and growth should have slack .
The intellect that it is best to keep off prune mature box seat earlier is that if you do so , this make a flush of soft growth that can be vulnerable to damage from drying winds , folio singe , hot sun and disease like box blight .
Pruning in August or September also helps to ensure that the hedge or topiary form continues to look neat and tidy during the wintertime months .
Hedges are often trim down freehand to asseverate their configuration .
Topiary forms may sometimes have a guide framework to follow , though are also sometimes only trimmed using a freehand access .
take your meter and having an artistic middle is essential when pruning to maintain a very smashing form when growing loge .
This is a plant life that lends itself to formalities , though it can also be tolerate to grow in a far more loose and lifelike form .
“ When crop , go over hedge a few time , not just once , ” Darren adds .
“ Box has a frustrating habit of folding the leave of absence down as you clip , riff an rough leaf back up into the zephyr , ruining the outline of the shape you are trying to make , so go over it around 3 - 4 times .
“ This is extra work , but the hedging then look amazing and draws the eye .
“ think of , if you prune a Turkish boxwood strong it grows back , meaning that you’re able to reinvent your garden on a regular basis . ”
Bill also has some tips on what form to prune your boxful bush into to aid foreclose and thin the risk of infection of box blight .
“ With these hedges , it is good practice to work a ‘ slugger ’ .
“ This is a tapered abstract with the base as the encompassing point and allows ignitor into the bottom of the hedge . ”
Renovation Pruning
If a box hedge or topiary has become older , neglected and left unpruned over a period of time , it may have become washy , straggly and patchy and need more extensive pruning to put thing veracious .
Box can fortunately respond quite well to beingcut back heavily in the late outpouring .
Potentially , you may cut the box back to within 15 curium so that new growth will emerge and the plant can recover .
This strategy is drastic and a petty risky , but it can often have lucky results .
After any pruning , it is a skilful estimate to replenish the mulch around the base of operations of the box by adding plenty of constitutional matter that will help to keep the box well - fed as well as offer up it and the grease in which it raise some protection .
“ mulch with wood chips or fine barque can be a good way to attempt to prevent box blight , ” share Horticultural Consultant Colin Skelly .
“ It provides constituent affair and retains moisture , which advance works wellness . It also limits squelch back onto gloomy foliage from the soil grade , limiting the chance for blight spore to splash back onto foliage and spread . ”
As you may tell from the above , pruning Buxus is not really complicated , as long as you keep in mind the historic period of the box seat and what you are trying to achieve .
