Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) Grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 8, and even in the warmer zones, then you might have an unusual cold spell. When dry and cold weather combine, the hints of your boxwoods are more likely to suffer from winter burn. Don’t worry if this happens. It is easy to prune winter burn and your boxwoods should continue to prosper.
Clean a set of sharp pruning shears with rubbing alcohol or a water and bleach solution of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water. Soak a rag with the solution and rub on the blades thoroughly to eliminate any diseases which could be on the blades out of past use. Allow them to dry in the open position to prevent rust. You’ll only need little hand-held clippers to your boxwoods.
Search for white tips on the boxwoods, which signify winter burn. Do this in late winter or early spring, once the weather starts to warm.
Snip off the burnt hints together with the sterile shears, cutting back to a healthy part of the shrub. If the leaf appears orange, that is normal. Unless you are pruning to shape your boxwoods, you must leave them in place and they will turn green again.