Pruning box
Advice for October in the Netherlands
This advice covers common box (Buxus sempervirens) as a ball, block or low hedge.
Box — October
Wait a little longer
Outside May, June and August it is better to leave box alone. In autumn and winter freshly cut foliage barely recovers and damage is likely, and July is often simply too hot. Wait for a calm, cloudy spell in the growing season.
Pay attention to this
- Wait for May, June or August and for cloudy, calm weather.
- Biggest mistake: pruning in bright sun, or adding stress to a plant already weakened by disease or box moth.
- Clean your tools before and after trimming.
- Always allow for frost and for differences between species and positions: postpone pruning during prolonged frost or when night frost is forecast.
See exactly where to cut
With real hands-on videos in the SnoeiWijs Tuinclub.
Frequently asked questions
- When should you trim box?
- In May, June or August, lightly and preferably on a cloudy day. Do not trim during heat or drought.
- Why not trim in bright sun?
- Freshly cut foliage scorches quickly in bright sun, leaving brown patches in the shape.
- What if the plant has box moth or disease?
- Do not add the stress of pruning to a weakened plant, and clean your tools before and after trimming.