Pruning is an important care procedure which, in addition to improving its appearance, also brings many benefits to the plant, for example by preventing the appearance of a pest on the bushes – the boxwood honey beetle. Some people decide to shape the bushes according to their preferences, and this is absolutely correct. However, maintaining the appropriate shape and size is not everything. It turns out that pruning also has a positive effect on the health of the plant. However, not everyone knows that boxwood cannot be trimmed at all times. There are three appropriate terms. When should this be done? Grab your scissors on these dates.
When to prune boxwood? There are three dates, but don’t miss any of them
Boxwood grows best in alkaline soil that is regularly watered with a moderate amount of water. It also prefers partial shade. It is worth knowing that if you do not provide it with such conditions, pruning will be of little use. The treatment can be performed up to three times a year. Remember to use only well-sharpened scissors for this purpose. For smaller twigs, you can use pruners. When is the best time to do this?
- First cut — Do it in early spring, at the latest at the end of April, when the plant has not yet started intensive growth.
- Second cut — Do them in June.
- Third cut — Complete them no later than the end of August.
Pruning boxwood in the garden, illustrative photo iStock/Andrey Sayfutdinov
When pruning, do not forget to remove unsightly twigs that do not develop properly. It is better not to prune the boxwood later than the end of August, because the plant will not be ready for winter and will not have time to heal the wounds before the first frost. During this time, it is also more susceptible to disease and damage. An ill-considered action may cause the boxwood to be poor or die completely in the next season. If you want the bush to be well-groomed, prune it at least twice a year, at selected dates. The ideal time to do this is late afternoon.
How to spray boxwood against pests? You don’t need store-bought preparations
Not everyone realizes that boxwood can be attacked by rapidly multiplying and voracious boxwood moth larvae, which can quickly destroy the entire bush. They first appeared in Poland probably in 2012 and became famous very quickly. If you see changes on your boxwood, it is worth taking immediate action to eradicate the pests. It turns out that home remedies will help you with this and you will literally spend pennies on them.
An interesting idea is to use a spray made from a product that even our grandmothers used. We’re talking about gray soap. What should you do? All you need to do is grate a bar of gray soap and dissolve the clippings in about 5 liters of warm rainwater (it is important that the water is soft, so you should not use tap water for spraying). Mix the medicine and when it cools down, strain the liquid through a fine strainer. This point is very important because it will ensure that you get rid of any particles of undissolved soap that could accidentally burn the boxwood leaves. Once the preparation is strained, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the plant generously.
How to spray boxwood moth with vinegar? Expensive preparations are a thing of the past
If you don’t have gray soap at home, regular spirit vinegar will also work great. Do you have it in the kitchen? If so, that’s great. Pour half a liter of water, 4 tablespoons of vinegar and 3 tablespoons of rapeseed oil into the bowl. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle, shake thoroughly, and then spray the boxwood infested with the boxwood moth. After 30 minutes, grab the garden hose and rinse the plant with water, and the voracious larvae will fall off the leaves. Do not skip washing the leaves, as long contact of the boxwood with vinegar could negatively affect the growth of the boxwood. If you feel like it, vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
