It will resprout. Probably want to cut now so there isn't additional damage should more snow come this winter.

My preference would be to wrap a natural fiber twine around it to bind it in position for a while, and that would provide green sides through the dormant season.

You can cut it back fairly hard in spring. Don't wait until May. Try Apri. That way, the bark can get used to the sunlight before the heat comes.

If you cut it back in late may, and get ninety degree days, or hotter, the bark can sunburn.

When we were near Portland, I remember two Mays in the past 5 years when the temperatures reached the nineties. One day was 100.

It's not common, but it can happen. So prune it before May, but save your greenery until then if you would like to.

Thanks for the recommendations. It has sprung back up somewhat but is still badly splayed. I will wrap some twine around it before we get another snow! A Master Gardener told me that St Patrick's day is the best time for pruning so I will aim for that date. We still have snow but it is finally melting.

"Renovate in late spring"

"Old or snow-damaged plants will make vigorous new growth if cut back to within 6-12in (15-30cm) of the ground. Remove any branches touching the ground that have rooted"

--Brickell/Joyce, PRUNING & TRAINING (1996, DK Publishing)

Good luck with the boxwood, Dotty. Would you believe mine is still covered in snow?!

Hi Dotty and all,

I'll just add my voice to the choir that your boxwoods should resprout if you decide to cut them back. I've seen them literally hacked to within inches of the roots and bounce back beautifully. I'd suggest mid-spring for a haircut and I'm sure yours will recover well. When I trimmed mine (at previous gardens) in mid-spring I used the trimming for cuttings which rooted pretty easily.

Sorry for the damage, but do keep us posted.
Take care,
Grant

Snow damage to box not unusual.

Thanks, I will keep you posted. As I said, the hedge is too overgrown for its space so it will be an interesting experiment. I note a lot of hedges suffering from the snow load and a lot that have been trimmed properly that are just fine. Our area has missed a lot of the wind damage etc. that our lousy NOvember weather caused and I am thankful for that.

Cut it down and start it over, unless you can't do without the barrier/screening for several years. Yew, holly and box are all traditional evergreen hedges that can be cut way back and will regrow, albeit slowly. Camellias are also pruning tolerant.