Pruning Young Boxwoods for a Tall, Narrow Hedge

A gardener planted boxwoods 6–8 months ago and wants a tall, skinny hedge. Conflicting advice: crop low (5–6 inches) vs. risk of shock.

Correct Approach

• Do not crop low. That's for rejuvenating old plants, not training young ones.
• Goal: tall and narrow. Most boxwoods are naturally wide. Choose a columnar cultivar (e.g., 'Green Tower', 'Graham Blandy') for this form.
• If using existing plants: Shear the sides lightly to encourage density, but do not top them. Let the leaders grow upward.
• Prune in late spring after the first flush hardens.

Reality Check

Common boxwoods (B. sempervirens, B. microphylla) mature at 3–6 ft tall and wide. Forcing a tall, narrow shape on a wide cultivar creates a thin, leggy plant with bare bases. Verify your cultivar's mature dimensions.

Best Practice

If the wrong cultivar, consider replacing with a columnar type. Otherwise, shear sides annually, let height develop naturally, and accept a wider hedge.