Sure, you can get super creative with boxwood topiary, but let’s be honest: the classic “simple” sphere is still the gold standard. However, getting that perfectly round shape isn’t exactly a walk in the park, even for those of us with a steady hand. Luckily, there are a few tricks and tools that can help even a total beginner nail the look.
Choosing the Right Boxwood Variety
Not all boxwoods are created equal. Some varieties are born to be hedges and will fight you every step of the way if you try to turn them into a ball. Before you start hacking away at an existing shrub, make sure it’s actually a good candidate for a round shape. If you’re starting from scratch and planting a new one, you can pick the perfect variety for the job:
- For smaller spheres: “Green Gem” or “Blauer Heinz”
- For larger spheres: “Rotundifolia” or “Handsworthiensis”
Use a Template (No Shame in the Game!)
If you aren’t confident freehanding it, you can buy wire topiary frames in various sizes. You basically fit the frame over the plant and trim off anything that pokes through. Just be careful not to cut so deep that you expose the wire! You can also DIY a template out of cardboard or plywood. Hold it up against the bush to see exactly where your lines should be. Pro tip: This is much easier as a two-person job—one person holds the template steady while the other snips.
Timing is Everything
To keep that globe looking sharp and lush, you’ll want to prune at least twice a year. Here’s the schedule I recommend:
- The first shaping cut should happen right after the first spring growth spurt (usually mid-May to June).
- The second “maintenance” trim should happen by mid-August.
- If you feel like it needs more touch-ups, just make sure to wait at least four weeks between sessions.
Quick Tip:
The more often you trim your boxwood, the denser and more branched the growth becomes. Frequent light trims are the secret to those gorgeous, gap-free green globes.
Pro Trimming Tips
Before you start, lay a tarp or plastic sheet around the base of the plant. Trust me, it makes cleaning up those tiny clippings a million times easier. When you start cutting, take it slow—you can always take more off, but you can’t put it back! Avoid cutting too deep into the bare interior of the bush. New growth from old wood takes a long time, and you’ll be stuck looking at a brown hole in your sphere for a while.
- Work in stages rather than trying to do it all at once.
- Think of the boxwood like a globe of the Earth.
- Start by trimming the “equator” first.
- Then, trim a few “lines of longitude” at regular intervals.
- Snip away the remaining bits to connect the lines.
- Cutting from the bottom upward usually makes it easier to maintain the curve.
- Finish with the fine-tuning, stepping back frequently to check the shape from different angles.
As long as your boxwood is healthy and disease-free, feel free to toss those clippings right onto the compost pile!
