Should I trim off the brown tips immediately?

It is better to wait until spring. Trimming too early can expose the plant to further cold damage.

Is my boxwood dying if the tips are brown?

Not necessarily. If the stems are still flexible and green inside, the plant is likely just recovering from stress.

Why are my boxwood tips turning brown? Causes and fixes

Check these first

Feel the soil to see if it is dry an inch down.
Check if the browning is mostly on the side facing the prevailing winter wind.
Scratch the bark on a brown branch to see if it is still green underneath.

Likely causes

Winter Injury
Most likely
How to tell: The tips of the branches turn brown or bronze after a cold, windy winter. This happens when the plant loses moisture faster than the roots can replace it from frozen soil.
What to do: Wait until late spring to see if new growth emerges from the brown areas. Prune away the dead, brittle tips once you are sure the danger of frost has passed.
Drought Stress
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown and crispy during the heat of summer. The soil will feel dry and hard to the touch.
What to do: Water the plant deeply at the base, providing enough moisture to soak the root zone. Apply a 2 inch layer of mulch around the base to help the soil retain water.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your common box

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

Worry if the browning continues to move down the entire branch into the main stem. Minor tip browning after a harsh winter is very common.

Stopping it coming back

Water your boxwoods deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes to help them survive the winter. Use burlap wraps in exposed areas to block drying winds.

Common box: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common box and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I trim off the brown tips immediately?: It is better to wait until spring. Trimming too early can expose the plant to further cold damage.
Is my boxwood dying if the tips are brown?: Not necessarily. If the stems are still flexible and green inside, the plant is likely just recovering from stress.

Guides to these causes

Dehydration

Why are my boxwood tips turning brown?