Boxwood, a low-maintenance evergreen shrub, provides a sculptural element to the garden.
The elegant plant has been a timeless landscape staple for millennia.
Boxwood can easily be shaped into different formal structures, which makes it an extremely appealingevergreen shrub.
Ernie Braun.
Though its commonly spotted in landscaping today, boxwood has been used in gardens for thousands of years.
The plant was incorporated into sprawling ancient Egyptianlandscapes and the lush gardens of ancient Greeceand Rome.
In warm climates, a little dappled shade helps boxwood thrive.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The shrub requires evenly moist soil that drains well.
Because of these factors, its best to avoid planting most boxwood varieties in southwestern exposures.
Additionally, boxwood benefits from some protection against high winds due to its shallow roots.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Assess the planned site and purpose of your boxwood before choosing a variety.
There are hundreds of cultivars on the market, and they have varying growth habits and site requirements.
Boxwood also works well in mass plantings or when used to edge beds and borders in formal gardens.
Credit: Carol Freeman
Select a planting area andtest the soil.
Boxwood requires a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
If necessary, amend the soil to fall within this pH range.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Water the plant thoroughly.
When planting multiple boxwood shrubs, the spacing depends on both the variety and its planned use.
The largest boxwoods can grow up to 20 feet wide, but it takes them years to do so.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
If the boxwoods are planted as ornamental specimens, 5- to 8-foot spacing is usually sufficient.
Boxwood Care Tips
Boxwood is generally a forgiving plant that doesnt require much care after its established.
Consult your boxwoods information tag before purchasing and planting to ensure youre choosing an appropriate site.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Soil and Water
Boxwood likesgood drainageand doesnt appreciate standing water.
Plant the shrub slightly above soil level and mound extra soil so water does not pool at the crown.
While establishing the plant, water about once a week, allowing the soil to dry before watering again.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Its also essential that boxwood is well-watered as winter approaches.
Watering the plant before a hard freeze helps fill any air space around the roots and acts as insulation.
Temperature and Humidity
Boxwood plants are hardy inZones 4-8, although this varies by variety.
For example, relatively few varieties can handle the cold temperatures in Zone 4.
In the hottest climates, boxwood requires extra water and some shade.
In general, the plant tolerates a wide range of humidity.
Fertilizer
Use an all-purpose fertilizer once each spring, following the manufacturers directions.
The growth rate is also important to consider.
An 18-inch container is the right size for many dwarf boxwood varieties.
If you notice your boxwood has stopped growing, its time to repot.
Additionally, boxwood may develop leaf spot and root rot, two conditions caused bypoor drainage.
Boxwood can also become infested with leafminer, boxwood mite, and boxwood psyllid.
Treat plants with horticultural oil toeliminate pests.
How to Propagate Boxwood from Cuttings
Propagate boxwood fromstem cuttingsin spring.
Take 4- to 6-inch cuttings from fresh, light-green growth.
Remove all foliage from the bottom half of the cuttings and dip them intorooting hormone.
Insert one cutting into each hole, trying not to rub off the rooting hormone.
This size pot can root up to four cuttings when spaced equally apart.
bring up the bag occasionally to confirm the potting medium remains moist.
The cuttings should root in four to six weeks.
To test whether rooting has occurred, tug gently on a leaf at the top of the cutting.
Fill a small container with moist seed-starting mix.
Press two or three seeds into each container at a depth of twice the longest side of the seed.
Place the container in the refrigerator for two months forstratification.
Check the seed-starting mix weekly to ensure it is still moist.
After a couple of months, take the container out of the refrigerator and uncover it.
Put it in a cool area, not a sunny windowthe ideal temperature is about 60Funtil the seeds germinate.
As soon as a seedling appears, move the container to an area with bright sunlight.
Its compact to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide, slow-growing, and extra cold hardy.
This boxwood variety thrives in Zones 4-8.
This variety may bronze in full sun during the winter, but it will typically grow out of it.
Zones 6-8 are ideal for this key in of boxwood.
Northern Beauty English Boxwood
Buxus sempervirensNorthern Beauty is among the hardiest English boxwood varieties.
It grows 5 feet tall and wide in Zones 5-8.
Boxwood is a strong and dense key in of wood.
Kansas State University Research and Extension.
National Records of Scotland.
Gardening in Ancient Rome.
How Safe are Boxwood Plants?Poison Control.
Boxwood as timber.European Boxwood & Topiary Society.
