Planting a Boxwood Border
The garden beds at my Bedford, New York farm continue to evolve.
I'm always looking for ways to improve my gardens. I love planting interesting and rare specimens that add texture, growth and beauty at different times throughout the year. I also enjoy arranging large groups of certain plantings to create borders and appealing displays. Recently, I decided to make some changes to the garden bed near my front gate. I finally removed the remaining trunks of a stand of white pines that were battered by Super Storm Sandy in 2012. I will plant something beautiful in their place, but in the meantime, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew planted a row of lovely boxwood along the edge of the bed.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- I love boxwood, Buxus, and have hundreds of these bold green shrubs growing all over my Bedford, New York farm. I take very special care of these specimens – they are regularly pruned and groomed, and in winter they are covered in a layer of protective burlap. It’s so nice to see them thrive in the gardens.
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- Down near my chicken coops I set up a boxwood “nursery” where we plant bare-root cuttings and nurture them for several years before they are planted around the farm. Here, Phurba is grooming some of the more developed young shrubs. This is easier to do before they are moved. These shrubs will be perfect for our newest project.
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- Outside my main greenhouse, one can see where the trunks had been removed. The space looks so different already.
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- I called in the professionals to grind up the stumps. The grinder has discs that spin at high speeds gradually cutting further down the stump until there is nothing left.
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- This machine is controlled remotely from a handheld unit. In just minutes, the stump is reduced to wood chips and shavings. Any old roots will eventually decay into the soil.
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- Here is the bed after the stumps are completely gone – a top dressing of composted mulch covers the entire space.
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- On another day, Phurba begins removing some of the plantings where the boxwood will be placed. These will be saved and replanted.
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- Holes are dug twice as wide as the boxwood root balls, but no deeper. Once in the hole, the top of the root ball should be a half-inch higher than the soil surface. We’ve had a lot of rain lately, so the soil is quite moist and soft.
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- Remember what I always say, “if you eat, so should your plants.” We’re using Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food. It contains natural ingredients to feed microbes in the soil and provide continuous release feeding to maintain deep, lush green foliage.
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- Once a hole is dug, Phurba thoroughly mixes the fertilizer with the soil. This is important, so the fertilizer does not have too much direct contact with the roots, which could burn them.
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- The boxwood is planted right away in the spot. Landscape twine is also positioned to ensure the shrubs are lined up perfectly where the bed is straight.
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- Phurba backfills wherever necessary. Boxwood shrubs have shallow root systems, so proper mulching after they are planted will help retain moisture and keep the roots cool.
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- Boxwood prefers well-drained soil with a lot of organic matter. Loamy soil or sandy conditions are best. Most boxwoods like some shade, but some varieties handle full sun exposure better than others.
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- Here is the border so far. It starts in front of my main greenhouse and will extend around a corner along the carriage road.
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- Each hole is dug carefully, especially as the bed curves. Phurba makes sure every shrub is positioned properly.
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- The outdoor grounds crew cut a piece of bamboo to help space the plants as they’re planted.
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- The shrubs are planted exactly two-feet apart and one foot from the edge – better to measure repeatedly to avoid any replanting later.
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- Phurba tamps down around each specimen to establish good contact with the soil.
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- Buxus is a genus of about 70 species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood. The boxes are native to western and southern Europe, southwest, southern and eastern Asia, Africa, Madagascar, northernmost South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Boxwood shrubs are slow-growing with dark green glossy leaves arranged opposite from each other, making pairs. Leaf shape depends on the variety; some are round while others are elliptical. This is Buxus ‘Green Mountain.’
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- Known as “man’s oldest garden ornamental” according to the American Boxwood Society, ancient Egyptians used boxwoods as decorative plants as early as 4000 B.C. Here is one side all done.
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- Boxwood has upright, naturally cone-shaped habits making them excellent candidates for planting free-form or for a sculpted hedge or border.
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- I am even more excited to see how this border develops over the next couple of years. And wait until you see what’s planned for the center of the bed. What do you think?
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