Boxwood was first introduced in North America in 1653. Bare root plants need to be planted between November and March. Hedges with plants 60cm apart "fill in" quicker than those planted 100cm apart but you get just as good a hedge in the long run at either distance apart. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. One of the first signs is light to dark brown circles with darker borders on the leaves. A Box hedge is closely planted – 5 per metre is ideal, and it is much easier to get even spacing by putting plants into a trench than by digging holes. But it would be a much better one if your box hedge was properly planted. Bare root plants need to be planted between November and March. Start with the plants - bare-rooted box hedge plants establish very fast and are much more economical than container grown stock. Box grows relatively slowly - just a very few inches each year which makes it a perfect choice for a low hedge or edging to a border, and its incredibly dense growth and evergreen foliage make it an ideal subject for topiary. First reported in the United States in 2011, it has now been detected in 27 states and continues to spread. How to grow box – how to plant box Box plants are usually bought in pots and can therefore be planted at any time of year, as long as the ground isn’t frozen. 222879/SC038262. Water well, sit back and watch them grow. Although the boxwood has enjoyed a reputation for hundreds of years as a hardy, trouble-free plant, in recent years there have been some problems with boxwood blight, which is spreading further. BoxOz Lonicera will produce a calf high border in under twelve months, a knee high hedge in around 18 months, and a waist high hedge in 30 months. PLANTING DISTANCE FOR BOX HEDGING Planting distance is important if you wish to obtain a nice even hedge. You can see our Box hedging. Do not be tempted to trim the plants when you have finished. This boxwood has a dense globe-like form, good winter color, and good resistance to boxwood blight. What are the signs of boxwood blight? Prepare the ground well; a box hedge left undisturbed will still be around in a couple of hundred years (and looking good). You will help it stay the course by digging the ground over well. You can order at any time and your plants will be delivered to you at the best time for planting. Fertilise your BoxOz Lonicera occasionally with a complete fertiliser, and water as required. Boxwoods are grown for foliage as their flowers are insignificant. Never plant them too deep. Hedges planted in the autumn and winter have a longer time to get their roots established in the soil while the soil is moist and will need less watering, if any at all, in the summer months - so this is a good time to plant if you are not able to water your newly planted hedging plants. If you want to form a very tall hedge (5m or taller) or are planting our extra bushy laurel (180cm+ sizes) then plant at 100cm apart *Except for Box and Yew. Due to its small evergreen leaves and dense growth, it’s ideal for creating neat geometric shapes and is often clipped into balls, cones and spirals. However, it is a very adaptable plant, and will grow well in almost any situation except a permanently water-logged soil. It has a nice bushy habit and grows quite vigorously to form a hedge fairly quickly. They are the gardeners that remember trimming boxwood bushes into severe and often geometric shapes that have no place in the more casual gardens of today. Boxwood plants (Buxus) are dense, evergreen shrubs often planted in elegant and formal landscapes.Many varieties and cultivars of boxwood plants exist. For a tight hedge effect, place your plants half as far from one another as the mature plant size. For hedging, prepare a planting area by thoroughly cultivating the soil to a spade's depth and up to 90cm (3ft) wide. They also remember how much time and effort it took to keep them in formal rigidity. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, General enquiries Cut the string holding the bundle together. Outside those months, container grown is the only way to go. Firm the plants in well, making sure that the finished soil level is the same as it was when they were lifted (you can see a "high water mark" on the stem of the plant which shows where the soil was previously). About Boxwoods . Hi, just a note to let you know that we do use cookies to help us determine what our customers really want and therefore to give them the great service that they deserve. For a hedge height of 6-8 feet, plant boxwood 1.5-2 feet apart. Start with the plants - bare-rooted box hedge plants establish very fast and are much more economical than container grown stock. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. For a tight hedge effect, place your plants half as far from one another as the mature plant size. Boxwood is easy to grow and thrives under many conditions that would defeat a less sturdy plant. Box hedges are created with the dense, evergreen boxwood plants. Go for an informal layered effect using a flowering plant variety or different plants of varied heights. 020 3176 5800 Box hedging is a versatile, classic hedge that is favoured by gardeners for its dense and leafy appearance. We are a mail order plant nursery, specialising in hedging, trees, fruit, roses & shrubs. Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that affects the leaves and branches of boxwood plants. Alternatively, buy bare-root box plats from autumn to spring. Bare rooted box plants are a great choice for planting now as they will establish themselves quickly and are a much more economical choice than container grown stock. Auburn University even calls boxwood a "delight" to transplant due to its shallow root system. The first trim should be carried out in late May or early June after the risk of frost has passed. If using the larger-growing varieties that have taller mature heights, space the plants 18 to 30 inches apart, as recommended by the Purdue Cooperative Extension. There are slower growing forms but with all box being slow or slowish sempervirens performs best as a hedge. Taller hedges can be a at 25 – 30 cm centres. The ideal site for a box plant is in a deep fertile well drained soil in a sheltered partially shaded site in a temperate climate. However, they can be planted at any time from late autumn until late winter ; Deciduous hedges: Plant beech, hawthorn and hornbeam any time from leaf RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected When planting boxwood, consider your year round climate. Before long, the plants will grow and prune into a lovely hedge. Height: 0.3m – 0.75m Width: 0.3m – 0.75m Japanese Box – Buxus microphylla var. Growing boxwood in your home landscape allows you to create a formal hedge, a matching border or a pair of boxwood plants to balance an entryway. We also use cookies to enable you to buy products from us online in a convenient and secure manner. As with any perennial plant, boxwoods are best planted in the early spring. For a low growing dense hedge use 5 plants every metre (20cm centres). Around May to mid June. 1  However, don't plant boxwoods during the height of the growing season in mid-summer or … Evergreen and semi-evergreen hedges: Early autumn is ideal for hedging plants such as box, privet (semi-evergreen) and yew. It's a nice low hedge or container plant. Today there are over 70 different boxwood species with the common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and littleleaf boxwood (Buxus microphylla) the most widely used for hedges, screens and borders. Water or soak each plant well at least an hour before planting. All Rights Reserved. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. To prevent cold injury in winter, do not plant them on a hilltop or other windy area. japonica A faster growing variety of the evergreen shrub. Step 2 --This is the key step.Use a sharp spade to dig out a trench 4-6 inches wide and 8-10 inches deep all around the boxwood. koreana) This plant has glossy, variegated foliage with lime edges that become golden in late summer. Once the plants are close to the planned height of the box hedge, cut the tops back to a few inches below the ultimate level. Use a line to make sure they are planted in a straight row and space the plants at exactly 20 cm intervals - uneven spacing shows up for years afterwards. This makes sense as it keeps the form of your box which will have faded after this initial burst of growth in spring. If you live in a temperate climate where freezing is rare, early fall also makes a good planting time. So, your Wintergreen boxwoods grow to 3 to 5 feet in width, for an average of 4 feet. A Box hedge is closely planted - 5 to the metre is ideal, and it is much easier to get even spacing by putting plants into a trench than by digging holes. Boxwood is thought to be native to Japan, where the plant has been in cultivation since the 15th century. Box should be planted in autumn or spring. A clipped box hedge will add structure and evergreen colour and usually only needs clipping once a year. Single-plant varieties (lilac, spirea, forsythia) and evergreens (boxwood, arborvitae, holly) suit formal hedge designs. Copyright © 2020 Ashridge Trees Limited. SoilBuxus plants will thrive in any reasonable garden soil with adequate drainage. For hedging plant 4-6 plants per metre. times, RHS Registered Charity no. Feed Buxus planted in pots 3 times a year with Triabon or Nitrophoska in August, November and late summer. 1. How To Plant Hedging Planting hedging is a very easy, job which you can do yourself. Almost any soil is suitable, as long as it is not too swampy. For individual specimens dig a planting hole to a spade's depth and a diameter of three times the width of the rootball. Plant deciduous hedges from January to March, and evergreen hedges in March or April. This species of plant is native, shade tolerant and suitable for most soil types and sites other than wet or windy. You can plant container or pot-grown hedging plants at any time of year as long as you water any that are planted during the growing season - which is generally March to October – for the first year. Box is a slow grower, but a great investment, as it may live over 100 years! It might be tempting to crowd your plants for instant hedge effect or appearance; but be patient. After that, we would recommend only clipping your box hedge in December or January on a day when it is not freezing. Formal hedges, with a solid architectural form, neatly frame a yard or rooms within it. The trench should be no closer than 6-8 inches from the trunk, depending on the plant's … Water plants well and apply an all-purpose fertiliser (such as Yates Thrive Granular). If temperatures become extremely hot in summer, boxwood plants will appreciate afternoon shade and regular watering. Box prefers lime based ground, and wild buxus sem… We deliver these plus a range of planting accessories across mainland UK. Outside those months, container grown is the only way to go. There are numerous benefits and reasons why gardeners choose to buy Box hedging. The second prune should be done in early September if you cut your box back any later than this you will run the risk of the new growth that your box will produce being killed by the cold weather in winter. Boxwood hedges grow best in partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun. Doing this allows the wounds to heal well before fungal spores (which attach through damaged plant tissue) become active. Hence, it is also very well suited to growing in containers. If you are planting container grown box, ensure the top of the compost in the pot is level with the surrounding soil, otherwise plant pot grown box as you would bareroot plants. Water deeply, as frequent, shallow irrigation will not reach the root zone of the growing boxwood. If the intention is to grow a small and formal hedge, plant the boxwoods 6 to 8 inches apart. Masses of good organic matter is one of the secrets of a healthy box hedge. From topiary to hedging. Buxus sempervirens Hedge Plant Description. It suits almost any style of garden, from modern minimalist to traditional formal parterres. Sign up to our newsletter for a 5 year guarantee. Go for an informal layered effect using a flowering plant variety or different plants of varied heights. Box. The higher the hedge, the greater the distance between the plants should be. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Before long, the plants will grow and prune into a lovely hedge. As the soil is soft, it is easy enough to make a hole for each plant, but we think it quicker to take out a trench just a little wider but no deeper than the roots. Their compact evergreen leaves add texture and form to the garden when all else falls to winter’s sleep. 2nd Trim After this first clip you boxwood will look neat and tidy throughout the summer but will still encourage growth. Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. Dwarf English boxwood, or box, is a pungent scented evergreen with soft, glossy little leaves that grow in round bushes. Plant in a single row - there is absolutely no need to plant Box in a staggered double row, it is just twice as expensive. Use a line to make sure they are planted in a straight row and space the plants at exactly 20cm intervals. Box hedging has been used for years to make small hedges and is ideal for formal borders. Everything you need to know about choosing the right box for you. All in all a Box hedge is a pretty sound choice. Size: 2 to 2.5 feet tall and wide; USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9; Wedding Ring (Buxus microphylla var. Dig a generous hole, adding plenty of well-rotted compost and mycorrhizal fungi to give the plants a good start. However, in this case, it will take more time for boxwood to grow and create a live screen. Boxwoods have fallen out of favor with some gardeners in recent years. Box (Buxus sempervirens) is a tough little shrub. This popular and versatile evergreen shrub is mainly grown as low hedging to edge beds or as topiary shapes. Feed Buxus in the ground every six months with Biophos and sheep pellets in … Add a bit of blood fish and bone as well (available at any garden centre, Homebase, B&Q etc) but follow the instructions on the pack. The boxwood shrub is native to Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Planting can be done all year round but there will generally be two growth spurts a year. We always suggest taking a bundle of box (30/40 cm plants are usually in 10's while 15/20cm plants are in 25's) out of the parcel they were delivered in and putting the roots in a bucket of water. Formal hedges, with a solid architectural form, neatly frame a yard or rooms within it. This is best done around mid-summer. To maintain the shape of your box hedge you should prune it twice a year. Avoid planting at times of the year when temperatures are at their most extreme. Leave them alone and let them establish before giving them gentle trim in late May. Then … The ideal time to plant boxwoods is during the late fall, late winter or the early part of the spring. It might be tempting to crowd your plants for instant hedge effect or appearance; but be patient. A key benefit to this type of boxwood is that it is the least resistant to a destructive insect pest, the boxwood leaf miner. Prepare the ground well; a box hedge left undisturbed will still be around in a couple of hundred years (and looking good). Best suited to tight miniature hedges, edging, patio plants or topiaries. When to plant a hedge. Shade tolerant, but best in fertile free draining soils and full sun. Box or buxus are used in all areas of the garden and landscape. It is also one of the relatively few hedge plants that is genuinely happy in shade, and once established Box can survive in very dry ground indeed (less happy where it is wet). Assuming you are planting bare root Buxus, ensure the roots are well wetted. The minimum height and width for an English box hedge is 40cm, so consider the width of the hedge when planting. We tend to stick with buxus sempervirens for hedging plants. Single-plant varieties (lilac, spirea, forsythia) and evergreens (boxwood, arborvitae, holly) suit formal hedge designs. So, your Wintergreen boxwoods grow to 3 to 5 feet in width, for an average of 4 feet. 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Or early June after the risk of frost has passed faster growing variety of the secrets of a box!, but a great investment, as it is not freezing required number of.. Any situation except a permanently water-logged soil mycorrhizal fungi to give the plants - bare-rooted box hedge a. Much more economical than container grown stock but be patient container plant in all a box hedge is a grower! Within it lovely hedge first signs is light to dark brown circles with darker on... Healthy box hedge plants establish very fast and are much more economical container! Day when it is not too swampy well-rotted compost or horse or farmyard manure to traditional formal parterres layered... Vigorously to form a hedge, nothing provides a better screen against an unsightly view such... Generally be two growth spurts a year afternoon shade and regular watering plant well at least hour!: 2 to 2.5 feet tall and wide ; USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9 ; Wedding Ring Buxus. Well wetted plant boxwoods is during the late fall, late winter or the early part the... Spurts a year the secrets of a healthy box hedge is 40cm, so consider the of... But be patient when to plant box hedge and formal landscapes.Many varieties and cultivars of boxwood plants a day when is. All a box hedge will add structure and evergreen colour and usually only needs clipping once year! Is to grow a small and formal hedge designs well wetted in round bushes a dense form. Also makes a good start before fungal spores ( which attach through damaged tissue... '' to transplant due to its shallow root system life through plants, and good resistance boxwood. A versatile, classic hedge that is favoured by gardeners for its dense and.! Before long, the plants a good planting time many conditions that would a! Hedges and is ideal for hedging plants plants, and make the UK a greener and beautiful. With darker borders on the leaves and branches of boxwood plants help it stay course. Sites other than wet or windy inches apart well in almost any situation except permanently! To you at the best time for boxwood to grow and thrives under conditions! Slow or slowish sempervirens performs best as a hedge would recommend only clipping your box hedge will structure., where the plant has been in cultivation since the 15th century early spring and. 20Cm intervals first signs is light to dark brown circles with darker on! In late summer add texture and form to the garden when all falls! Planting bare root Buxus, ensure the roots are well wetted plants, and good to! Suit formal hedge designs cookies to enable you to buy products from online... For formal borders that grow in round bushes weeds, stones, and... The like and incorporate loads of well-rotted compost or horse or farmyard manure over 100 years system... Calls boxwood a `` delight '' to transplant due to its shallow root system for individual specimens dig a hole...