Why I Prefer Manual Pruners: Boxwood Pruning and Pest Management Tips
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- In this video, I share how I prune my boxwood and I talk about two serious boxwood pests I am dealing with this year.
I went nuts with the gas-powered pruners. Leave me a comment if you think I destroyed my hedge? It is not a pretty scene. I'll stick to hand pruners moving forward.
I purchased my hand pruners on Amazon and love them. I'll include the link below:
www.amazon.com...
I am simply sharing the method I use to prune my boxwood hedge. If you want perfectly straight lines, you need to set up multiple string lines.
Thanks for watching.
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📩 sue@gardenmoxie.com
#gardening #boxwood #pruning
Boxwood will bounce back. The light will get into the middle and it will start to leaf out from the middle. Give it food and water and it will be fine.
Thanks Pat. That is what I am hoping will happen. I expanded the foundation border around the front of my house and had to move the boxwood there. They are doing remarkably well. Thank goodness nature is tough.
Sue, I had an OLD boxwood in front of my house when I moved into my historic home 18 years ago. Even with lots of trimming it was 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide and encroached over half of the sidewalk to my front door. I finally had enough last year and decided to take it out. We cut it down to the main trunk & stems, had to stop when the branches were to big for pruners at about 24” high on the outside & 30” at the center. They kinda looked cool and had a vase shape so I thought it would look great with potted annuals nested in the center. My hubby was happy because he was not looking forward to digging it out! Well I never got around to the flowers but it started leafing out all over the stems to the ground. Now it’s turning into a lovely shape and I will be able to prune it into the perfect size ball!! Who’da thunk? Nature is wonderful! Next year you will be glad you did it as you wouldn’t have been able to get the size down like you wanted. Love your videos!
Another Michigander
Hello fellow Michigan gardener. I love that story! You are right that nature is amazing.
Those boxwood hedges are beautiful! I’m sure the circular ones will come back.
I cut my laurel hedges by eye as well. I definitely think it’s a skill that you learn by doing. And going slow and stepping back to check your work as you were saying.
I use the power trimmer though. Don’t be too deterred from your first try! It’s the same as cutting by eye, it takes some practice, try a few different techniques and make sure to step back often to see what you’ve done. If you want to move to the trimmer fully one day, find a section maybe at the back where you can practice your technique and do a little section with the trimmers each time to build up your practice. The first time I pruned our hedges, it looked pretty terrible 😂 👍
LOL. After the first cut with those power trimmers, I knew I had made a mistake. Yikes! The one issue I have with the trimmers we bought is they are very heavy. They worked well. Probably too well for me to use...ha ha. I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. I'm hoping the circular bed bounces back.
Hello Sue, I'm so happy I found your channel. Your garden is so beautiful. I particularly love the Mary garden.
Concerning the boxwood miner, in France and in Germany we use Bacillus Thuringiensis. It's an ecological natural way of treating that pest. Maybe you can purchase it in the US.
I hope my English is understandable 😎
Many hugs from Alsace, France 🙋♀️
Hello and thank you for your tip about boxwood miner. I did not realize that BT worked on that pest. I have some and will give it a try.
Oh no! 😂 I’m sorry friend! Those poor boxwoods didn’t stand a chance 😂😂😂 I actually don’t mind the pruning but I hate the clean up
LOL. Not pretty Roxana! It was a scene. I agree. Pruning isn't that bad...but the clean up. No thank you.😂
Sue, you did an amazing job pruning the boxwoods. I can see how easy one can get carried away when pruning. It’s happened to me as well. I’m sure the boxwood will be fine, plants are so resilient. Your gardens look beautiful! Hopefully you will be able to get control on the pest. I am dealing with aphids in my spireas I didn’t want to use chemicals but I had to. I try to always find orgánica ways to do it and so I am using Bonide products which is made for organic gardening.
Thanks so much. It really is easy to get carried away pruning, isn't it? 😂 How do you like the Bonide products you've tried? Do you have any recommendations based on your experience?
@@GardenMoxie I’ve had great success with them. I usually use either Neem Oil or Captain Jacks dead bug and for my roses I use Rose X as well as the other two.
@@alilbitofsol Thanks for the tip.
You are very detailed, I’m impressed, looking forward to learning from you and all your experience!
Thanks for watching! I'm hoping my boxwood survive my "heavy hand".
@@GardenMoxie 😂
@@GardenMoxie I used to live in a place called “boxwood” and there wasn’t a single boxwood on the property!
@@seanslawns Perfect!
Thank you.....I have always wanted boxwood hedges like yours but after seeing what all goes into their upkeep and I am now so thankful I don’t have them 😊😂
LOL. I'm glad I could help 😂
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on trimming and caring for boxwood 🌳🌳🌳Yours are so pretty💚
Thanks so much Lynn.
You do a fantastic job Sue 🥰🥰
Thanks Jasmine. I'm hoping the circular bed bounces back. I was a bit heavy handed there. Thank goodness nature has a will to survive.
always enjoy your videos, thank you !
Thanks for watching! What other topics should I cover that you would like to see?
You did a fabulous job! Thank you for sharing one of the great tools you use!
Thank you. Those hand pruners I bought are great. I'm glad you found that helpful.
Love your garden, this channel, and definitely YOU ! One trick i learned from a master gardener years ago with all hedges, is to have a slight slant with the bottom being bigger than the top. This will allow more light to the already deprived leaves at the bottom, there by creating a healthier all-round hedge. The degree of slant is personal choice. Through trial and error, my plants responded well to 2" wider at the bottom, { dictated for the shaded side }, my hedge stopped having bald spots, but this slop was distinctly noticeable, but the hedge was happy and as long as it is consistent, it's ALL GOOD ! I have to add, i only used the string and pole method for the first year to create the foundation, than eyed it afterward. One can not allow the plants to get to much growth in between "hair cuts" to do "The Cut By Eye" method. Now, off to watch another of your great creations. Thanks for creating and sharing yourself ❣
Thanks so much. Did you set up string lines to get the slant just right? I might have to give this a try (without gas-powered pruners of course 😂).
@@GardenMoxie Hi again, Forgot to say that. Yes, Definitely at the beginning, like the first thee trims, since the plant will tell you if the angle is right. On another technique, {I'm a bit of a nut}, but this works great !..if there is a bald spot, i used shaping wire use by Bonsai artist to pull branches over to the hole/space. A couple trims later...no bald spots. i totally agree with you on the manual clippers. What people don't see with the use of "power blades", is when these clippers get dull, they chew up the poor plant, leaving it open to infections, which leads to poor growth. The "manual" sheers you showed are great, simply for a very important OTHER fact...You can easily sharpen them, which is key for an easier job, but also a healthier clean cut. { Sorry for being long winded.}
@@craigathonian Thanks for sharing all that great information. What an excellent tip about the bonsai wire. Brilliant!
I think they’ll be fine Sue! This summer they may not look all that good but next year they’ll start growing again. Our house painters butchered my boxwoods to paint the wall behind them last Fall. It was horrendous but this early summer they are once again putting out new growth.
Thanks for the note. I am hoping they bounce back. Nature is pretty tough thank goodness. Don't you hate it when you have to get work done close to your gardens?
Well, a similar thing happened to me when I chose to use a battery powered trimmer. After I used it I got box blight. I cut out the bad stems and now spray @topbuxus every 4 weeks to keep mine healthy. I don't have as many hedges as you, but trimming isn't my favourite thing either. I use tarps to catch the leaves though. They are well worth it. That was 4 years ago and nothing has happened until this year. I do have more psyllid than usual, but it's not a worry. I will be trimming soon. I would have been crying too if I had seen what happened here. It will recover though I have seen it online. Apparently you can cut them to the ground and they will come back. The branches I cut off, came back. I can't believe it but I'm planting a boxwood square hedge tomorrow with the Dwarf English variety even though I know they are susceptible . I had to match the ones already there. I try to only water from the bottom, but I can't always unless I change the old sprinkler system. $$$$
Anyway, I love your garden, especially the hedges and I think they are perfect. I never use string, but I'm thinking about it. I spend too much time standing back and making adjustments! So far I think they look pretty good. Your garden gives others pleasure as it does you. I would only get into trouble if we didn't have my garden to look after. The trick for me is to appreciate, the weather and the freedom we have to do all this and enjoy it at the end of the day. Thank you for sharing. 💚
Thanks so much for your note. I appreciate you sharing the name of the product that is working for your boxwood. Your note has so many great suggestions. Thanks for that.
Thank you! I have never pruned my boxwoods. I will try it.
Thanks for watching the video. As you saw...my best words of advice are "go slowly"...ha ha.
Hi from The Cotswolds in the U.K…..I did feel for you with this. I explained on one of your previous videos that I have suffered with both Box Blight and Box Caterpillars over the last few years and have tried both natural products and more specific insecticide products too. I have come to the conclusion that it’s going to just be too expensive to keep doing this over and over every year so I’ve decided to get rid of my two very small hedges and three box topiaries. I honestly can’t deal with the heartbreak, frustration, cost and plain hard work with them now. I’ve had them a very long time (with no issues at all) and have loved them but it’s time for a change….for me at least! My health isn’t so good with an autoimmune disease so it’s a farewell to mine. I’m sure your box hedges will comes back after their little cut, have faith…they look like strong plants! 🧡💚🍀🤞🏼
Hello. I appreciate your encouraging words. I know exactly how you feel about dealing with pests. I recently removed all the oriental lilies in my garden (lily beetle) and a gorgeous Snowball viburnum (viburnum leaf beetle) because I didn't want to spend the time trying to manage the pests organically.
Have you replaced your boxwood? I'd love to hear how its going and what put in their place.
@@GardenMoxie - aww, thanks ☺️. I’m yet to figure out whether to replace them with something similar looking. I’m hankering after a few more hydrangeas in the pots where the topiaries were but the hedges, which were very short, I don’t yet know.
@@GardenMoxie - sorry, meant to add, I’ll try and update you once I have a 100% plan! Good luck with your beautiful box plants too 😌
@@cketts8128 That sounds great. I look forward to your updates. Thanks for sharing your plans.
@@cketts8128 I'm a huge fan of hydrangeas too. It sounds lovely.
Unfortunately, with the rise in popularity of gardening and the overuse of certain plants, I think pests and diseases are just going to get worse and worse.
I have to agree with you and boxwood definitely fit into that description. Do you have any good suggestions for a boxwood replacement that is deer resistant?
Use wilt stop spray on the tips of the boxwoods so they don't scorch.
Thanks for the recommendation Blake.
@@GardenMoxie No problem. I learned the hard way lol
Omg. Hard to watch that pruning😢 Monty don has a good section on pruning box if infected. Leave it, don’t prune it out. Let it grow. Watch it see how it goes. It was mentioned in the last video of Gardeners World, uk.
Thanks for the suggestion. I am happy to report that the boxwood has almost completely recovered. I picked the right year to prune it hard. We have had a lot of rain this season. Sometimes its good to be lucky. I know better for next time.
From the UK.
Considering your intention to remove the lawn after using so much water to keep it going, it was a good move. In reality, despite your neighbours remarks, I truly believe you have had the last laugh. Your garden both front and back is a feast for the eye and a bonus for your neighbours. Thankyou for sharing your journey with us.
Hello and thank you for your kind note. I appreciate the encouragement.
I appreciate when a great gardener shows their mistakes. It helps me not feel so bad when I make them. Thanks for your video. ❤
Thank you. I've learned that gardening is a great exercise in trail and error. Some years more error than trial. 😂 What's your biggest gardening mistake? I've made some funny ones.
@@GardenMoxie I've only been gardening the past year so I've made many but the mistake I keep making is overwatering. I've rotted out so many plants. I'm in Texas & haven't yet found the balance between enough water & too much but I'm determined to find it.
@@bherrera1915 I've been there. You will definitely find the balance.
@Bherrera1915. FYI, rule of thumb for watering is water deeply once a week. However, you have to do it more often when it’s a new plant. Just don’t water every day. People often water less everyday, but that’s not good either. Climates matter and I live in a very different one (mine’s like Sue’s) and Texas is dry so you may need to do it more often. You can test with your finger. Water until you have moisture in the first inch or two of soil. Then test with your finger each day to see how quickly your soil dries out. When you go down a couple of inches and it’s getting dry, it’s time to water again. Also, mulch helps to keep the soil moist longer and has the added benefit of keeping down weeds. I hope this helps.
@@cyndireed2505 Thank you for the watering tips! All my plants are pretty new. I did feel the soil with my finger today & found that some plants still had moist soil from my last watering & some were dry as a bone. I'll definitely start checking instead of watering everything on a schedule.
Looks like a big job to prune all those boxwood but you did an amazing job. Garden looks lovely
Thanks so much Jo-Ann.
Incredible vedio realy amazing by the way your new friend ...👏👏
Always enjoy your videos!
Thanks so much!
Use a level ?😂😂😂 for what .
Hi there. Your hedges look good great! Awesome job! I recently read an article about using systemic spinosad which apparently is naturally occurring bacteria to treat leaf miner on boxwood. The application would begin in early April before the larvae’s emerge. Something to think about….
Thanks so much. I do plan to try that next season. I appreciate you sharing your tips.
I know how it is , with the power trimmer.. I had this bright idea to do that to my spirea bushes , they had gotten so big , so I thought maybe just a little trim & they would be good .. Omg 😳😳😳
NO ! I kept cutting & the more I cut the worse they looked, they looked like you ran over them with a truck & just stuck them in the ground.. I was like you .. I just cried. And , they bloomed very little the next year & still looked so bad .. but after that , I have never trimmed them again with power tools. I just use hand clippers & trim off the bigger stuff that stick out , after they bloom each year .. that’s been about 10 years ago & I have not touched them since .
Sometimes it’s better to leave well enough alone ! Thank God they still are alive & beautiful each year . ❤
😂😂😂 Your note made me laugh so hard. Thanks for that. I think you know exactly how I felt after looking at that circular hedge. I appreciate your note.
@@GardenMoxie 💗
I have had success with releasing lace leaf larvae on my boxwoods. Thanks for your video.
@@lisawhitehouse9267 Thanks for the tip.
As hard as you work in your garden, I think a treat of hiring someone to trim your boxwoods once a year is acceptable. Your gardens are wonderful!
I do mine, but the will come when I ask someone to do it for me, for sure.
You are a person after my heart Sandra! I read a post the other day where a person was sharing how they have a company do their boxwood trimming and it was perfect. Have you had good luck with landscapers?
@@GardenMoxie I could tell you some horror stories about landscapers, so if you decide to hire one make sure you get REAL references!
As soon as I accepted the fact that I could not do it all,
gardening once again became became my place of peace.
@@sandracroghan8360 Thanks for sharing your wisdom. That makes perfect sense to me.