Overgrown box topiary
Kaydarling
Posts: 5
Hi. Following several house moves over the past 5 or 6 years, we have now settled in Cornwall, and can now plant some of the shrubs/trees which we had kept in pots. However, I have no idea what to do with the 5 or 6 Box Topiary, which have not had a prune/feed/repotting in all this time. There are (were) 2 x huge balls, 2 x large conical shapes, and a smallish one I was training. They have all lost their original shape, are spindly and sad looking. Where do I start? Can they be saved? I have managed to get them all out of their pots yesterday, and have temporarily put the root balls into black plastic bags to stop them drying out. But what do I do next ? Can they be cut right back into the hardwood? Do I need to reduce the rootball size before repotting? Any help/advice appreciated. Many thanks
Posts
I would pot them up with fresh compost or put them into the ground. A light trim cutting out any obviously dead bits, a bit of foliar feed a couple of times during the next few months. See how they do then start to trim them back into shape next year.
Lots of tender care over the next few seasons and see what happens. Fingers crossed they will recover.
Thank you guys, much appreciated.
You say you shouldn't cut back into the hardwood. This is the bit I have been confused about really, as some sites/experts say that you can do this with box, but some say you shouldn't. Maybe Iwill try with just one of them and see what happens. I guess it would be OK to reduce the size of the root ball too ?
At this time of year, ensuring you keep on top of the watering and the occasional feed, box will take a hiding! It may be the best thing for them to lighten the load so that the roots have less top growth to supply. I've had to do the very same with a couple of elderly ex-topiary specimens (changed one from a snail to a rabbit over three years, talk about genetically modified!), and the other from a tall spiral to a short fat cone. Both worked admirably. Chopped in late May
Many thanks. I think I will have a go and just go for it. I will have to cut the roots back too, as they will never fit back in to the same pot, Wish me luck.