The Box burst into life in the early spring with lots of bright, lime-coloured shoots which soon concealed the dark green shape underneath. Although I was itching to prune the shoots back immediately, I resisted. Pruning sappy growth before it has toughened up, leaves topiary looking unsightly rather than architectural. Late May and June are the best months turn shaggy box topiary shapes into neat and tidy ones again.
It is a good idea to choose a dull day to trim box as partly cut leaves can dry and scorch in bright sunshine. To make clearing up afterwards easier, I stand the pot on a polythene sheet. It is recommended you use a pair of hand held trimmers which look a bit like sheep shears. For a perfect shape, you can twist a length of garden wire into a circular shape slightly smaller than the mass of foliage and move it round the plant with one hand as you snip with the other. Personally, I prefer to wing it using standard sheers and the more faffing I do, the less I like the finished result. Remember, just like hair, it grows out again.
I think cone shapes are easier to trim because you can rest three canes on the sides of the cone and push them into the ground. Secure the canes at the top to make a wigwam and bind the sides together with garden wire. Restore the cone shape by standing above the plant and pruning in an outward direction from the centre.
I often give the box a second trim in the season, but no later than August so the plant can recover before growth slows in the autumn.
Box is quite thirsty when grown in a container so I make sure the pot is large enough and I feed it with a general fertiliser during the growing season. I even water it now and then during the winter months too.
I have wondered about trying to grow more challenging shapes and have seen wire topiary shapes for sale at the garden centre. Looking at my ever-so-slightly lopsided box balls though, I have the feeling that maybe I should quit whilst I am ahead.
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