How to Prune (Overgrown) Boxwoods with Closeup Examples

In this video, I show you step-by-step how to prune your boxwoods — especially if they are overgrown. Using a row of Winter Gem Boxwoods, I walk you through the process with closeup examples of exactly how to prune boxwoods. I discuss uncovering bare stems inside the shrub; the best pruning tools for older and newer stems; pruning for a natural look; how to best prune a row of boxwoods; and fertilizer. You'll see my boxwoods before, during and after pruning, and you’ll learn how easy it is to prune your own boxwoods with my helpful tips! Use the Chapter headings below to jump to a specific topic in the video. (Zone 7, southern New Jersey)

Chapters:

0:00 - Closeup look at a row of Winter Gem Boxwoods including the inside of the shrubs
5:16 - Pruning Tools for both older and newer stems plus I demonstrate pruning examples
9:06 - Step One: Reduce the Height with step-by-step examples
14:55 - Step Two: Reduce the Width (and create more space between each shrub) with examples
22:08 - Pruning the second shrub in a row and how to make it easier
23:10 — After Pruning: how do they look?
26:27 — Fertilizer for Boxwoods

❤️ Please hit the like button — and subscribe — if you enjoyed this video! ❤️

💚 GARDEN TOOLS USED FOR PRUNING 💚

_As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases._

💚 FERTILIZER MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO 💚

Feed your Boxwoods in Spring after pruning with a slow-release organic fertilizer.

💚 MORE PRUNING VIDEOS TO WATCH 💚

Pruning and Deadheading Tips video playlist (50+ videos)

#boxwoods #pruningboxwoods #gardensanity

[PilarFrancisco-Saguil]

Those cuttings are excellent you can grow them in a pot I did it last year and I got baby boxwood

[chrismarchetti-olson]

8” of snow this morning 😂😂😂. I love your boxwoods. The sound of snow blowers was hideous!! 😂. I’m looking forward to pruning anything at this point! Thank you for your video. Continuing to live vicariously through your yard and you in short sleeves 🌸🌸😁

[sueadams]

Thank you so much, your pruning videos have been great inspiration !
Keep 'em coming !
I'm in eastern Virginia, you and I seem to appreciate
Many of the same landscape plants.
Your property looks great !

[susanbusching]

Thank you so much for showing us how you work in your garden/yard. I really enjoy learning from watching your videos ❤

[woopoo]

This was so helpful for me, thank you! My husband and I bought a beautiful older home 2 years ago that is absolutely lined with boxwoods, and I have had no idea what I'm doing. I even used electric hedge trimmers last year and had exactly the experience you described (that was literally the only thing I knew [thought I knew!] that you were supposed to do with hedges). I really appreciate all of the explanations and close-ups you showed which other videos I've watched have lacked.

[kayrosswog]

This video saved me a trip to the nursery to ask for help.
Your instructions are so clear and easy to follow. Thank you so much!

[tatefan]

Thank you so much! This really helped me and my husband to be able to trim our boxwoods good. We used the electric trimmer on it a couple years and it was awful for them. So we let them grow back and grow kind of wild like. Now it’s time to trim. This was great advice on what to look for and how to go about it. Thanks!

[sammysworld]

Hi Laura! I must say… you did a fantastic job with boxwoods. bravo👏🏼. I just take a shear & hack mine off every late winter or early Spring into tiny balls. Mine are displayed in the very front of my garden bed so I have to keep them smaller.

[dignit]

Thanks for this video, you explained so well! I feel like I can tackle this expertly now! New subscriber here! Looking forward to more.👏👍

[joyceaitchison]

Loved this video inspiring and informative Thank You

[troypinkney]

Beautiful, that how I keep mine, I hate letting them grow together ( unless I'm am intentionally doing g a hedge )

[missmarionette]

Hi Laura! Are you doing this in spring or fall? It’s about mid fall where I am, but we still have 60+ days, dropping down to mid to upper 40s overnight. I’ve taken over a property and the hedges haven’t been trimmed in over 5 years, so super overgrown!! And intimidating because they are at the front of the property!!

[willaerley]

I appreciate the dedication, but I blow through my boxwoods in 5 minutes with the electric hedge trimmer. 😔. I inherited them already sheared into a tight hedge. I have a Green Mountain boxwood in a pot that I want to carve into a spiral. Wish me luck!

[bgabb]

I bought around 30 one gallon size pots last year for hedges around my porch. It’s growing nicely but slow, I think. It seems like it’s growing in all directions. I want to grow them as hedges. It looks kind of flimsy right now. How long should I wait to start pruning?

[amberwilson]

Can I trim 4 individuals down (they have grown together into a giant hedge) into 4 separate ones? I seem to get into just branch if I try to trim down

[LindaKing-mi]

I have no green leaves in the middle of my boxwood. What do I do now because they are getting too big for my space

[Teresa-qqqp]

Yes, I like how you pruned. They don't look like meat balls.

[vadimyashchenko]

How would you trim the boxwood that doesn’t have any green leaves inside of the plant where the branches are all dry?
I am at a loss what to do.