Pruning Boxwoods: Ditch the Hedge Trimmers, Use Hand Pruners for Health

Electric trimmers create "green meatballs"—dense shell, empty interior. One dead limb = huge hole. Recovery is slow.

Right Way

Hand pruners. Remove individual limbs to reduce size over 2+ years. Cut ¼ this year, ¼ next spring. Holes fill fast from adjacent buds.

Result

Leaves along outer third of each branch = healthy, resilient boxwood.