St. Louis Boxwood Blog

Boxwood blight is one of the most serious issues affecting boxwoods, and this video gives a helpful overview of what to watch for before the damage spreads.

Overgrown boxwoods can feel like a lost cause, but this video shows how to bring them back without removing them entirely.

Not every boxwood needs to be perfectly geometric. This video focuses on a softer, more natural approach to shaping—one that keeps plants full without over-defining their structure.

Well-shaped boxwoods don’t come from cutting more; they come from cutting correctly. This video walks through the fundamentals of shaping boxwoods in a way that keeps them full, structured, and long-lasting.

Most boxwood issues in St. Louis aren’t from lack of care. They’re from inconsistent watering.

When boxwoods underperform—slow growth, uneven color, general lack of vitality—the issue is often diagnosed from above. More trimming. More fertilizer. More water. But in St. Louis, the real problem is usually below the surface.

There’s a misconception that formal boxwoods look sharp because they’re cut aggressively. In reality, it’s the opposite. The cleanest hedges in St. Louis are shaped gradually, over time, with small adjustments rather than major corrections. The structure is maintained, not forced.

If your boxwoods browned this winter, you’re not alone. In St. Louis, it’s often not disease. It’s winter burn.

If your boxwoods look rough right now, don’t rush to fix them. St. Louis winters (freeze-thaw cycles + wind) create surface damage that often looks worse than it is.

Knowing how and when to trim boxwoods results in healthier plants that are less prone to diseases and pests.

In a formal garden, spring success comes down to restraint, structure, and timing. Get those right, and everything else falls into place. Start with structure, not flowers.Boxwoods are the backbone of a formal garden, so the first move is a light, intentional prune. Not a hard cut—just enough to sharpen lines, remove winter burn, and reestablish symmetry. Clean structure early sets the tone for everything that follows. Clear before you plant. Dead leaves, matted debris, and c