How to shape box topiary

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How to shape box topiary

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Tuesday, 24 September 2019 at 1:35 pm

Find out how to shape box topiary into distinctive shapes with the help of our advice.

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Box is an incredibly versatile plant that is perfect for trimming into topiary shapes, including balls, spirals and much more.

The best time to trim box topiary is late spring. This will encourage the development of side shoots.

These new shoots can then be cut in midsummer to create a well-defined surface in whatever shape you wish.

This will again cause sideshoots to grow - the plants can be given a final shaping and tidy up if necessary in early autumn.

Always use sharp tools to shape topiary - this will mean that stems are cut cleanly, not crushed.

Here's how to trim box topiary.

You Will Need

Box plants
Secateurs
Hand shears
Metal snips

Step 1

Trimming box plants

Use secateurs, scissors or single-handed shears to cut young topiary or intricate forms. Cut back the young current season's shoots (which are a paler green) when they have reached 8-10cm long. Cut back to two leaves from the base of the new shoot. Avoid cutting into the previous year's older growth, which will be a darker green.

Step 2

Shearing a shape into box topiary

Trim lightly until the basic form is clearly visible - it's easier to trim again rather than cut drastically, ruining the shape. Thicker stems or any parts of the plant that need careful shaping, such as the top of this spiral, should be cut with sharp secateurs.

Step 3

Trimming the top of the box plant

For 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.

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.

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