Every year, it’s time to give those boxwoods a haircut. Whether you’re trimming them once, twice, or even more often to keep them looking like perfect spheres, pyramids, or funky garden sculptures, you’re going to end up with a pile of green clippings on the ground. But don’t toss them out just yet! Those clippings aren’t necessarily trash—under the right conditions, they can be a great addition to your compost pile.
Only Compost Healthy Clippings
If your boxwood is perfectly healthy, go ahead and toss those clippings into the compost. However, I have to emphasize the “healthy” part because boxwoods are unfortunately prone to quite a few pests and diseases. Most backyard compost piles don’t get hot enough to kill off fungal pathogens. To make sure you aren’t spreading diseases back into your flower beds later, any sick clippings need to be disposed of properly. Your best bet is to seal them in an airtight bag and put them in your regular household trash. If your boxwood is suffering from boxwood blight or a box tree moth infestation, you should even avoid the municipal green waste bin, just to be safe.
Pro Tip:
Don’t skip disinfecting your pruning tools before and after you work. I know, it’s a bit of a chore, but it’s the best way to save your boxwoods from a nasty infection.
Shred Before You Compost
If you don’t trim your boxwood frequently, or if you’ve had to cut it back hard, those clippings can be pretty long and woody. If you throw them in the pile as-is, they’ll take forever to break down. Here’s how to speed things up:
- Shred the clippings into very fine pieces.
- Mix them in with your other compost materials.
- Fresh grass clippings are a perfect partner because they decompose quickly.
- Alternatively, add some compost starter or a bit of finished compost to jumpstart the process.
- Spread the clippings out evenly.
- Give your compost pile a good turn every now and then.
Use Clippings as Mulch
Even if you don’t have a compost pile, those boxwood trimmings don’t have to go to waste. As long as they’re healthy, finely shredded boxwood clippings make excellent mulch. You can spread them under your ornamental plants or across your vegetable beds to help keep the soil moist and add nutrients back into the earth. For an even better boost, mix them with some grass clippings before spreading.
