How to shape box topiary

in Home : Projects: Pruning and training

You will need

  • Box topiary, secateurs, sheep-hand shears, large scissors or garden shears
Do it: May - August
Takes just: 20 minutes for each plant

Project categories

Overview

Trimming box topiary involves cutting back the fresh new growth of your chosen plant in late spring, to encourage the development of side shoots. These shoots can then be cut in mid summer to create a well-defined surface in whatever shape you wish. This will again cause sideshoots to grow and the plants can be given a final shaping and tidy up if necessary in early autumn.

How to do it

Clipping young box plant

1Use secateurs scissors or single-handed shears to cut young topiary or intricate forms. Cut back the young current season's shoots when they have reached 8-10cm long. Cut back to 2 leaves from the base. Avoid cutting into the previous year's older growth.

Clipping box hedge with shears

2For box hedges and edgings, trim the new growth using a pair of garden hand shears. For the top, make sure that you keep the blades horizontal to get a level surface. Cut back to a couple of leaves above where the current growth starts.

Adam's tip

For complex topiary shapes, it's easier to make the shape out of chicken wire and secure it over the box plant. As soon as the growth pokes through the mesh of wires, clip into shape.

Discuss this project

Talkback: How to shape box topiary
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sianden 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I have a large box hedge that I would like to tunr in to a cockrel - how do I set about it please.
Thanks

Maximus2 18/05/2012 at 19:04

Be careful - if there is any danger of frost don't cut your box hedges too early otherwise box-blight can set in and you can lose your hedge or topiary.