When to prune boxwoods

Thin boxwoods in December through February when the temperature is above freezing, and shear them in early June with a possible light second pruning in July.

The window: Thinning: December through February, with the temperature above freezing. Shearing: early June, with a second light pruning possibly needed in July. Drastic size reduction: early spring, done in a two-step approach.

For thinning, the temperature should be above freezing.
A second light pruning may be needed in July after the early June shear.
If you are reducing the boxwood in size drastically, use a two-step approach in early spring.
Pruning in March, early spring, is also okay.

The mistake to avoid: If you are reducing the boxwood in size drastically, do not do it in one pass; use a two-step approach in early spring.

Timing varies by region and year; your local extension office is the closest authority.

Grounded in: ask.extension.org. Every timing follows sentences verified verbatim on those pages.

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