We love gardening and we want to share this love with you. Feed the slow-growing bushes with regular doses of Boxwood fertilizer to promote faster foliage growth. Make the twisted end the bottom of the circle. Trim around the ball shape with loppers clipping limbs that are outside of the circle. You can grow boxwoods in nearly any container, provided the pots have two features: First, the container must be larger in diameter than the root ball of the boxwood you choose. It enables the plant to grow in the right shape. Thinning opens up the foliage a little to allow air and light to come in. You can. Always seep the trimmer from down to up. Don't use an electric trimmer on the inside; instead, use bypass pruners to cut away dead pieces about the same length as the active growth. Cut four 12-inch lengths of double-sided ribbon. You can maintain your boxwood shrub's shape in the desired form or compact it by removing the new growth that may stick out. "When pruning, it's really about head, hand, shears, and getting into the groove and rhythm of it," says Hobson, who says the one thing to avoid when clipping topiary is to make big erratic movementssmall and steady will help you refine a shape. Barbara H. Smith, 2019 HGIC, Clemson University. Tackle pest infestations as soon as you spot them as these houseplant insects can spread through the foliage in no time. Make a loop of ribbon as long as needed to hang the kissing ball. If you want to change your creation and reshape into something else, just let it grow. Lay center of ribbons over the bare spot on the foam sphere. "@context": "https://schema.org", First, make a small hole in the Styrofoam ball where we will later insert the main stem of the topiary. The number of times the spiral goes around the . Fit the bush into the cardboard semicircle and start cutting off the branches that stick out of the circular shape. Cut back to two leaves from the base of the new shoot. Generally, dwarf boxwoods, along with most other boxwoods, are easy to grow and resistant to . During that time, people used apples or potatoes as a base to create a ball-shaped decoration we now know as kissing balls. The diameter of the semi-circle you cut out of the carton will be the same as the diameter of your Box bush. Start trimming and shaping your bushes early in their plant life as this will reduce your efforts and make your job at hand easier. . Wrap the wire of the floral pick around the object to firmly secure it to the pick. Using a string as an outline is the perfect guiding tool for shaping your Box into a square shape. Trim in the opposite direction of growth and you will have a nice ball of boxwood. Shaping a plant into a ball or cube is all about practising your skills and if ever there was a time to take time, nows the time to take the time. Using an electric trimmer in the opposite direction, you will dangerously chop into the branches. Repeat the same step but this time, place the stakes on the rear and front of the bush. Press the legs into the ground with the circle on one side of the bush. Remember that water carries oxygen and plants absorb nutrients through their leaves as well as their roots. Moisten the potting medium, place the pot in a sealed plastic bag, and set it in a bright location. Don't rush things. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. How to shear a Boxwood shrub into a 'gumdrop' shape. Does your creation look lopsided or not circular enough? How to shape boxwoods is an easy and hassle-free manner if you have the right trimming and pruning tools. The ideal time to clear up fallen debris from inside the shrub is in early spring when the light air of the season can flow to provide ventilation and freshness to the bush. When you notice your topiary starts to lose it shape, keep it in check by regular trimming. Many thanks for your answer in advance. When. Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer. Water it right after you create your shape. Dont let us stop you, however, if you feel that using a frame will help you in the early stages of your topiary journey. With a general idea of what shape you want and loads of patience, you can begin to snip away the branches. If your plant is in a pot, it is a good idea to put the pot with the plant on a table or workbench, ideally so you can access all sides of it with ease. I'm Jamie and I started TrimHedge to learn about hedge trimming and topiary and share my findings with you. Always move the trimmer from bottom to top, trimming it away to the desired height using the strings as your guide. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9. Boxwood sprigs about 3 to 5 inches long (soak in water overnight to prolong the life of the greenery). Set out your tools in advance so that they will be handy when you need them. Upright boxwoods create a very classy, sophisticated look. This is to ensure that there is fresh growth of the shrubs at all times. { You should only use sharp and sterilized tools and wear protective gloves while pruning. A contaminated tool is the first stage when any disease can infect plants, thus taking adequate precautions can prevent the occurrence of any. This can help deter root rot from developing. Unhealthy foliage only drains precious energy from the plant. The process can be a lot of fun as these boxwoods can typically grow to a height of ten feet and fifteen feet wide with a slow growth rate which makes it easy to shape them. as you wouldnt have to wade through layers of foliage. If your boxwood is in a container, use the container as a guide. as the outer circle of the foliage serves as protection for the inner growth against chilly winds and frost. Compost the sod, or replant it in another location. With the help of an electric trimmer snip away all growth outside the boundary. Step 2. This will prevent putting the plant at risk of developing bacterial and fungal diseases. You can cut an existing bush into a ball shape, maintain it in size, and shape it when you make a round topiary frame from wire to use as a guide in pruning. After planting, water thoroughly, as this will help your plant set strong roots. Did you know that the tradition of making and hanging a kissing ball dates back to the early Middle Ages? BOBscaping makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of information on this site and will not be held liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. To start the trimming process, you'll need to reach inside the bush to see how much active growth it has. Achieving the perfect ball shape can be hard so it is better to use a guide to prune off the excessive foliage. Push the stakes into the ground in front of the boxwood hedge as close to the freshly trimmed side as possible. Tie around garden stakes to make a boundary in the shape and dimensions you desire. Place the wire form into the ground so it is over the boxwood shrub or directly behind the plant, if necessary. If this all feels a bit daunting and you want something simpler, our essential guide to hedge trimming will get you off in the right direction. 11 Worst Signs of Anthurium Root Rot Fix Anthurium Root Rot. The ends of the stakes should be sharply pointed. You should trim some of the new growth in the middle of the summer or during the peak growing season. Attach each piece at the 3 and 9 o'clock areas on the circle and twist the wire. Shaping a Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) shrub with a hedge trimmer and a pruning shear. To find out more about me, visit my About Page. In this article, learn how to shape these boxwood additions to beautify your garden and landscape keeping it green all through the year. Featuring soft, green leaves shaped it into a timeless ball topiary. Wait for the right season. A: You should start by cutting a circle in the ground. Bury the ends of the cuttings in a pot filled with a mixture of sand, peat moss, and vermiculite. Open out the shrubs gently to allow for airflow and circulation, this is why the stakes must be placed. Let's invest in high quality boxwood, you deserve it. Allow the tools to soak for five minutes to disinfect them and wipe them dry with a towel. Lift kissing ball by ribbons to make sure they're secure. Regularly trimming off foliage from each part of the plant stimulates dense and vigorous growth, which in turn makes your Boxwood shrubs look their best. Withstand wind, rain and sunlight exposure and stay evergreen throughout the season . } The boxwood tree isn't actually a tree, it is considered a shrub. You can shape the shrub in a round shape in a similar fashion using a cardboard Sheet. Such damaged portions tend to stress out the plant, draining it of its limited energy resources. Ilex crenata 'Hetzii' (3 to 6 feet tall and wide) has a rounded form, so it works well for many animal and geometrical shapes. Moreover, when growing Boxwood as ornamental bushes, you want them to grow quickly so they can be shaped as desired as quickly as possible. Step 1. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Continue trimming until you trim all sides of the bush into a ball. Ball Topiary doesn't always have to be boxwood. This lack of character can make your landscape seem one-dimensional and dull. Shaping Boxwood shrubs into square or rectangle hedges is a bit easier than shaping them into a round shape. Laurel is one of the easiest hedge plants to grow, it is hardy, dense and resistant to most threats. Electric hedge trimmers are by far the best tools for Boxwood shaping. The boxwood tree can be a nice addition to a yard or garden. This will. Stretch a measuring tape on each side of the circle from the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position to the ground. Choose a pyramidal evergreen, such as a juniper, columnar blue spruce, columnar pine, Norway spruce, dwarf Alberta spruce, upright yew (such as "Hicksii"), or boxwood with a straight trunk. Running your tool through all sections not only helps to keep the plant clean, tidy and disease and pest free, but it also promotes uniform growth of the foliage. This is the time to shape your topiaries or guide the natural shape. Remember not to overdo it and to stick to just two feet of the foliage. Boxwood shrubs (Buxus sempervirens, USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9) make lovely additions to a home or to public landscaping since they're hardy, and they keep their beautiful green color all year. We believe that your outdoor space is an expression of your values and your vision. Home Gardens How to shape boxwood into a ball. You can buy this versatile hedging plant in your local garden centre. $40 at Amazon. Thinning cuts are when you cut branches right from where it joins the main trunk. Use an electric hedge trimmer to start cutting the sides of your hedge gently. } Share. Either way, they can grow under most soil conditions . Then, make thinning cuts evenly around the outside of the boxwood. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Inspect each of the sections from exterior to interior and snip away all dead, damaged, discolored, and decayed stems. Kissing balls were hung from doorways and ceilings to encourage romance, and many young women would stand underneath them and hope for a kiss. Here is the step-by-step procedure of how you can go about it. PRODUCT DETAILS : 1PC Package, Height, Approx 23.5'' and Width, Approx 18''. She loves writing about careers for busy families as well as family oriented planning, meals and activities for all ages. make sure that the shrub that you are picking is still a baby one because it would be easier to set sail with this one, as it is fresh and young, it will grow to adhere to the boxwood. "@type": "Answer", Another fungal infection can cause root rot in boxwoods, leading to poor coloring and growth. It can grow to almost reach four feet tall but most people prune these plants to a specific shape. Use a shape that is not over 3 feet tall because the boxwood will grow only that tall. To determine the length of the bush place the stakes at the front and rear of the bush and run the string over, exactly the way you did to determine the width. This plant matter is hard to sweep or rake up from the ground afterward. evergreenseeds.com all right reserved - - While regular shaping does not require you to cut more than this limit, you will have to prune carefully when shaping a largely overgrown bush. " Who doesn't want glossy green, perfectly shaped Boxwood shrubs in their garden? Never remove more than two-thirds of a branching system in a year. Remove all dead and diseased sections and keep the interiors of the boxwood hedge debris free. To complete simple designs such as ball topiary, you dont need a lot of tools which is another reason why its an ideal project for the beginner topiary artist. ] The numerous types of boxwood have varying growth rates, leaf shapes, and colors, therefore they are not all the same. Lay a tarp around the shrub you trim. Always sterilize all tools and garden equipment, before you begin the process, with a diluted solution of isopropyl alcohol. These can make your job easier as you can tackle the inner layers of the bush hassle-free. So cut it out accordingly. The best time for Boxwood pruning is Spring and early Summer. Begin with branches that are sticking out or offshoots of the boxwood's desired silhouette. First, wrap decorative ribbon around the Styrofoam ball, twist it at the bottom, and come back up to the original point. This year's growth that will need trimming is thin and wispy - but on close inspection, the thicker basic structure of the plant will be more visible. "text": "It is not advised to remove more than 2-3 feet of plant growth at a time. The boxwood 'Arborescens' has oval leaves growing oppositely on woody stems. Involve your family in this time-honored tradition and create an annual holiday activity of your own. Place thinning cuts on the outer circle of the foliage to enable the shrubs to receive more light and air, which otherwise gets blocked by the ticker outer foliage. Round-shaped boxwoods are not impossible, as you must begin with picking a baby shrub, sterilizing your tools, preparing a strong reference, and adjusting the shape and the height and the measurements, after which you must begin with the pruning process. In the era of using artificial decorations for the holidays, why not revive an old tradition and make a boxwood kissing ball to hang in your home? Boxwoods respond best to pruning in Spring and early Summer. It reduces the risk of massive overgrowth and also predisposes to diseases. Box is one of the plants that you'll see in formal gardens neatly clipped into hedges with precise right angles. If you're wondering how to prune boxwoods with winter damage, you'll need to leave more outer growth and try to prune away some dead interior branches. Green Mound Boxwood. If it makes the job more pleasurable for you and gives you the confidence to experiment with more technical topiary, go for it. While regular shaping does not require you to cut more than this limit, you will have to prune carefully when shaping a largely overgrown bush. Go all around the circle in a rotation motion, avoiding trimming in the opposite direction of growth. Here is the step-by-step procedure of how you can go about it. Stretch a measuring tape on each side of the circle from the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position to the ground . Prune the boxwoods around your homes and gardens back into the desired form to match your preferred aesthetics. Measure the height and width of the bush in its existing form. Mix a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water in a bucket. But even when theyre big enough, you cant just stroll down the garden with your shears and cut them to any shape you like. I answer lots of questions related to this Wintergreen box hedge in the potager. You can remove them with the help of loppers where the growth is thick and trim them close with the help of hand pruners. Remove dead or damaged branches from the shrub first. They take the hard work out of pruning work and you can shape your bushes just by sliding the trimmers over the foliage. It is all about getting the feel for working in a living material such as boxwood, so devote a good amount of time to the project and the rewards will last much longer than you realise. . These can make your job easier as you can tackle the inner layers of the bush hassle-free. Cutting it back in winter or just before winter, puts the plant at risk of exposing its core to the cold. It should run around the bush, in the exact shape and dimensions you want, which is a square or rectangle shape. With a general idea of what shape you want and loads of patience, you can. It is probably true. Evergreen Seeds is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. When pruned to a rough ball shape initially, Boxwoods will grow into an irregular ball shape. . Theres much more to Boxwood shaping than that. You'll need a general idea of the shape you want your shrub to take and frequently step back as you use your trimmer to cut away branches. The diameter of the semi-circle you cut out of the carton will be the same as the diameter of your Box bush. It doesnt take long before you are able to break a seemingly complex design into its component parts and then you can understand how you might recreate something similar within your garden. Space boxwoods a little further apart and you can prune them into balls or taller shapes with some space between. Once you think that you have finished, inspect the plant and pick out any loose twigs or branches. Keep out of intense, direct sunlight and mist with water every couple of weeks . It reduces the risk of massive overgrowth and also predisposes to diseases. Such damaged portions tend to stress out the plant, draining it of its limited energy resources. With the boxwood bush now enclosed in a string grid; it becomes your reference to trim it in the desired shape. But heavy pruning in late summer or early fall won't allow time for the new limbs to harden before the colder temperatures arrive. Maintaining Boxwood Shape. As much as it looks good and is fun, having well-shaped and healthy Boxwoods is not an easy feat to achieve. Removing some of the foliage also helps reduce the transplant shock on the freshly planted Boxes. Bring the two loose ends of wire together and twist them tightly with pliers. Remember not to overdo it and to stick to just two feet of the foliage. Shake dirt out of the shrub and fill the hole with topsoil. and place it from the bottom to the top of the boxwood. Step 1: How to Make a DIY Large Outdoor Topiary. Within its thick foliage, you will find fallen leaves and debris which can tend to rot, putting the shrubs at risk of developing fungal diseases. Japanese Holly Shrubs. Make sure you track how much you trim . Topiary: The plant's ability to be pruned and shaped into various forms makes it a popular choice for topiary.It can be shaped into animals, geometric shapes, and letters, adding an interesting and unique element to a garden or . A short plant will easily get lost in a display. Wait until it turns from light to dark green and then you can more aggressively shape your boxwood. If you are able, return to the topiary ball in a day or so, as it will give the plant time to settle into its new shape, and for the weather to shake up a bit, and so a final burst of fine tuning can round things off nicely pun intended! Thus prune carefully, especially if the bush is large and overgrown. The University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management also reports that you can use trisodium phosphate (TSP), alcohol or pine oil to sterilize the shears. It may be necessary to use multiple pins in order to firmly secure the loop. It is easy to prune the tall tree into a dense privacy hedge. Discover ways to trim boxwoods and how to use them as dramatic punctuation in the garden. You will also discover that simple combinations of ball and cube shapes can be used to great effect it just takes a bit of time, the right tools and a good perspective on the matter. Measure the height and width of the bush in its existing form. Round-shaped boxwoods are not impossible, as you must. Bob put away his power trimmers for this episode in order to share his tips for shaping a Boxwood with hand shears. The most common type of boxwood shrub is the English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa,' zones 5-8), and you're likely to find this plant at local nurseries and home improvement stores, like Lowe's. You'll only need to clip a boxwood twice a year. Now comes the fun part. Sharpen your shears and make a thorough assessment before you start cutting anything. With their thick and dense growth, the ideal tool for shaping boxwoods is an electric trimmer. 1. Within its thick foliage, you will find fallen leaves and debris which can tend to rot. Follow these steps and soon you should have the perfectly pruned boxwood in a square or rectangle shape. A piece of wood marked with the height at which you want to shear, or a piece of string extended between two stakes can keep you on track when creating a uniform shape. Remove dead or diseased foliage first. The process of shaping boxwoods into square or rectangle-shaped hedges is far easier than you think. According to Plant Addicts, boxwood shrubs grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9, which encompasses much of the United States, especially the Central U.S. As with most types of plants, there are several types of boxwood shrubs, including Green Mountain boxwood (Buxus 'Green Mountain,' zones 5-9). Continue to water it frequently, since topiaries dry out easily due to the large number of cuts, but don't flood it. Place a pair of stakes on both sides of the bush and drive them into the ground to stand firmly. Insert the boxwood sprigs into the Styrofoam ball. This timing allows the new growth to come in and helps keep the shrub healthy before making drastic cuts. The perfect shape can be regained by gently pulling and fluffing the foliage back into shape. } It will be a great conversation piece for the holiday season. { . Balls, cones, swirls and even animal shapes can be achieved and because the growth of box is slow the shape will be clear and precise for months on end with no interference. Select a wire animal form for the topiary shape. Get tips and tricks how to clever water with GARDENA. "@type": "Question", 9 Companion Plants for Mints: A List of Great Combinations, 9 Bugs That Eat Tomato Plants: Commonly Existing Pests, 9 Plants Deer Like to Eat: How To Protect Your Plants, 6 Plants That Eat Mosquitoes: Alternative Insect Control. Spend more time looking at the plant than actually cutting it.