What is the effect of severe pruning on boxwoods?

Severe pruning can have detrimental effects on boxwoods, as they do not recover well from aggressive cutting. Boxwoods are generally slow-growing shrubs, and when they are pruned too harshly, it can lead to stress, making them more susceptible to diseases and environmental stresses. Instead of thriving, they may decline in health due to the significant loss of foliage, which is essential for photosynthesis. This damage can stunt their growth and affect their overall vitality, leading to a weakened plant that may require considerable time and care to recover, if at all.

In contrast, other options suggest outcomes that are not typical for boxwoods. For instance, while some plants might thrive after a heavy pruning, boxwoods are not among them. Similarly, they do not necessarily require additional fertilization following severe pruning; in fact, over-fertilization can further stress a plant that is already struggling. Lastly, the notion that they grow faster after severe pruning is misleading, as the process of regrowth post-severe pruning can take a significant amount of time.