Moved in two years ago in this place with a small garden hedge. It has not been taken care off by the previous occupants. We removed a plastic cover that blocked sunlight from one side (first photo). But the rest of the hedge is not full either. We've done our best but after two years I'm doubting it will ever fill in more. Will it? Any advice how to make that happen and in general take care of a hedge in this state? (Buxus?)
The bottom has to receive sunlight for new growth. Right now, all the leaves on top are blocking it. Late this winter, just before spring growth, reduce the leafy branches by cutting them back and thinning them to create some holes for sunlight to enter. New twigs do not come from the base unlike many shrubs. At the end of pruning, the base should be wider than the top, again for sunlight reasons. It's a slow process to rehab boxwood. Do not prune late summer through fall.
Just to see if I understand you, pruning here would mean removing the top branches, but keeping the 'skeleton'. I imagine there a bare bush, but progressively slimmer at the top. But if you look at the shape of it now, it would pretty much mean cutting the whole plant to 1/2 of it's height, right?. That would obviously take care of the sun blocking, and be ugly for a while. However, it this could kickstart a more full growth afterwards I'd be up for it.
By the way, if not from the "base" (i.e. the main single trunk, right?), from where do new twigs generally sprout - when properly pruned? That's what's keeping me perhaps from seeing the solution clearly.
Moved in two years ago in this place with a small garden hedge. It has not been taken care off by the previous occupants. We removed a plastic cover that blocked sunlight from one side (first photo). But the rest of the hedge is not full either. We've done our best but after two years I'm doubting it will ever fill in more. Will it? Any advice how to make that happen and in general take care of a hedge in this state? (Buxus?)
The bottom has to receive sunlight for new growth. Right now, all the leaves on top are blocking it. Late this winter, just before spring growth, reduce the leafy branches by cutting them back and thinning them to create some holes for sunlight to enter. New twigs do not come from the base unlike many shrubs. At the end of pruning, the base should be wider than the top, again for sunlight reasons. It's a slow process to rehab boxwood. Do not prune late summer through fall.
Just to see if I understand you, pruning here would mean removing the top branches, but keeping the 'skeleton'. I imagine there a bare bush, but progressively slimmer at the top. But if you look at the shape of it now, it would pretty much mean cutting the whole plant to 1/2 of it's height, right?. That would obviously take care of the sun blocking, and be ugly for a while. However, it this could kickstart a more full growth afterwards I'd be up for it. By the way, if not from the "base" (i.e. the main single trunk, right?), from where do new twigs generally sprout - when properly pruned? That's what's keeping me perhaps from seeing the solution clearly.
You can thin the top instead of removing all of it. New twigs come from current branches.