Knowledgebase

Boxwood damage #937751

Asked July 02, 2026, 2:40 PM EDT

We had damage over the winter on our boxwood shrubs near our house and in a center driveway planter. They are in their 6th season. Do they need to be replaced or do you think they will come back?

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing.
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/managing-winter-injury-boxwood
Cut back to live wood, (green inside the bark), water well. Apply a Nitrogen 5% sustained release fertilizer and see what happens. 
Be sure you take away all clippings. They arer good for growing diseases that would make the plant non curable. There are no guarantees. 
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions.  The University' garden soil tests are excellent.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional  A Directory of ISA certified arborists is at https://certificates.directory.isa-arbor.com/  The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum  Ask a Master Gardener is a public service of the University of MInnesota's Extension Division.  Please donate if we make you happy.  https://give.umn.edu/gardener Replied July 02, 2026, 5:39 PM EDT

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