Planting Boxwood Shrubs
I'm always looking for ways to improve my gardens.
Earlier this year, I decided to change the garden near my front gate. I removed the remaining trunks of a stand of white pines that were battered by Super Storm Sandy in 2012. In their place, I decided to plant a group of medium sized boxwood that would add both color and texture to the bed. I called on my friend, George Bridge, who first introduced me to boxwood more than 20-years ago to help me select just the right ones. George is a leading grower and supplier of one of the largest collections of unique and mature plants, trees, and boxwood in the United States. George delivered and planted three beautiful American boxwood shrubs and they look just perfect.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Here at my farm, it’s always exciting when new plants arrive. I enjoy designing outdoor spaces and watching the gardens evolve and flourish. Adding rich foliage is also good for the landscape – they improve air quality, absorb pollutants, and help purifying the air.
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- A couple months ago, I cleared this space of several tree trunks that had been here covered in beautiful climbing hydrangea. While they looked very pretty, it was time for a change.
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- I love boxwood, Buxus, and have hundreds of these bold green shrubs growing all over my Bedford, New York farm. We continued this border of small boxwood all the way around the bed.
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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.
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- George personally delivered three handsome boxwood shrubs. I knew they would be perfect for the space. Boxwood has upright, naturally cone-shaped habits making them excellent for planting free-form or for a sculpted hedge or border.
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- George specializes in collecting rare, vintage, and mature landscape plant material, including shrubs, hedges, fruit and ornamental trees, and even woody vines. His boxwood collection includes large, mature boxwood ranging from six to 12-feet tall and up to 80 years old. Visit his web site for more information.
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- The first of three shrubs is put into place. I wanted three here – one larger one and two smaller ones.
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- Our trusted Hi-Lo carefully lifts each specimen off the truck bed. George and his team meticulously wrap and lace the root balls for transit, so they arrive in the best condition possible.
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- George oversees every move to ensure the shrubs are placed just right.
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- Here, the Hi-Lo raises the forklift high up from the side of the carriage road and then gently lowers the boxwood into place.
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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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- In winter, these boxwood will also be covered in protective burlap to prevent snow and ice damage. Here is the last one getting lowered into the bed.
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- And here’s George with his team afterward – thanks, guys! They look just perfect where they are!
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- Once they are in place, the digging begins. 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.
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- The surrounding soil is sprinkled with a generous amount of fertilizer formulated to maintain deep, lush green foliage. The food is always mixed in, so the fertilizer does not have too much direct contact with the roots, which could burn them.
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- And then one by one, each boxwood shrub is planted in the ground. When necessary, always water boxwoods slowly and deeply. Overwatering can cause root diseases, while under-watering can cause stress.
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- 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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- With the additional hosta plants and the border of smaller boxwood grown from bare root cuttings, I think the garden bed looks excellent. It was the right choice to make!
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