A well-maintained spiral-trimmed box bush always looks good. We show you how to get it in shape.
21.11.2025
Tall box varieties are most suitable for spiral shaping, such as Buxus sempervirens and Buxus sempervirens Rotundifolia.
Topiary is the word for clipping trees into ornamental shapes.
You can cut a box bush into a topiary spiral all year round, as it is a more minor type of shaping and maintenance cut. The Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits major pruning measures for the period between 1 March and 30 September.
A cordless hedge trimmer, such as the STIHL HSA 60, is ideal for the initial larger cuts. A pair of secateurs, such as the STIHL PG 20, is better for fine work.
This intricate spiral cut requires a little more patience and delicacy than simple geometric figures – but the result is worth it and makes a special attention-grabbing feature in your garden or in front of your home. It is important that you allow enough time to make your topiary spiral – considering that you have to start by shaping your box bush into a cone.
To cut your box bush into a beautiful spiral, you will need the right protective equipment as well as suitable tools and equipment. Let us explain what you should have ready before you get started.
Working with high-performance power tools is fun and allows you to broaden your skills, which is great if you can rely on effective and safe protective clothing.
Always wear personal protective equipment when working with garden pruners. This includes, for example, safety glasses, gloves and more. Find out more in the operating instructions for your product. Before using your power tool for the first time, fully familiarise yourself with it and ensure that it is in flawless condition before each use.
On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your power tool for its first job, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working.
The cone shape is always the foundation for a boxwood topiary spiral. Start there and then work your way forward to the fine spiral shape.
Video instructions: cutting a topiary spiral
The following video shows you a step-by-step guide for how to cut a box, cypress or another plant into a delicate spiral shape. Further down you can find clear written instructions. Enjoy your spiral topiary!
First you will learn how to cut a box bush – or other plant – into a cone as a basic shape.
Note: the pictures in the following instructions show a cypress. However, the process works just as well with a box bush.
Before you can cut your box bush into a spiral, you need to get it into a cone shape. Start by inserting six bamboo canes into the ground around the pot at a 30-centimetre distance.
Now tie all the canes together at the top to make a conical shape, and trim back the box bush until it is level with the canes.
Use a cordless hedge trimmer, such as the STIHL HSA 60, to cut any branches which protrude from the bamboo frame, so that your box bush takes on a cone shape. Once you have finished cutting the shape, you can remove the bamboo frame.
To ensure you can enjoy your hedge trimmer for a long time, clean it by spraying the STIHL HSA 60 with Multiclean and letting it run briefly. Then fit the blade guard.
After the boxwood has been left to grow for a few weeks, new shoots will be visible. Use the bamboo cane construction and the STIHL HSA 60 to get your box bush into a dense cone shape.
Once your boxwood or other plant has been successfully cut into a cone, it’s time for the fine work; this is what will turn it into an elegant spiral.
Attach a ribbon or string to the tip of the boxwood cone and evenly wind it down and around the bush.
Proper care will keep your power tools in good condition for longer. So take a pair of secateurs, such as the STIHL PG 20, and oil them carefully before use.
Carefully cut grooves into the plant above and below the ribbon, starting from the top. The spiral will slowly take shape.
After examining the box bush from a distance to check for flaws, you can remove the ribbon. It is best to immediately trim off any individual protruding shoots.
Now cut the grooves deeper, down to the trunk of the box bush, and shake any cuttings out of the plant.
You’re almost there! If your box bush is in a sunny spot, you should cover it with geotextile for two more days to protect it from the sun.
STIHL tip
Remember to trim the spiral regularly and take care of your boxwood. Doing so will ensure your box bush always looks neat.
So that you can enjoy your box bush topiary spiral for a long time, you need to regularly trim it into shape during the growing season. You should trim boxwood at least two to three times a year: in May, at the end of June and again in August. Depending on how dense and precise you want your spiral to be, more frequent trimming is preferable.
The tall, narrow appearance of a spiral means that tall boxwood varieties are particularly suitable for shaping. These include, for example, Buxus sempervirens and Buxus sempervirens Rotundifolia, which are easy to cut into a spiral.
In order to protect breeding and nesting sites, the Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits larger-scale hedge trimming during the period from 1 March to 30 September. You should also not severely cut back bushes and other shrubs during this period. Minor pruning for hedge maintenance and shaping is permitted – but only if no animals are nesting in the hedge.
