Adding Boxwood to a Garden Bed, Part II

September 27, 2024

Adding Boxwood to a Garden Bed, Part II

It's always so exciting to see my gardens evolve and transform.

This week, I turned my attention to a bed near the front of my farm outside my main greenhouse. I had already replaced a stand of white pine trunks with a selection of medium sized boxwood and planted hostas and other perennials around them. Recently, I decided to change the space once again, adding about a dozen more boxwood shrubs of different varieties and shapes. Yesterday, while I was in New York City for a long day of business meetings, my gardening team worked hard to get all the specimens in the ground before an afternoon of rain showers.

Enjoy these photos.

: The boxwood are all positioned where they should be planted. 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.

: Boxwood has upright, naturally cone-shaped habits making them excellent for planting free-form or for a sculpted hedge or border. I use a lot of boxwood in my gardens.

: This newest grouping of boxwood is from Select Horticulture Inc., in nearby Pound Ridge, New York. Their specimens are always so lush and healthy.

: Once they are in place, the digging begins. Holes are dug twice as wide as the boxwood root balls, but no deeper.

: 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.

: Scotts Evergreen Flowering Tree & Shrub food is a fertilizer that is ideal for acid-loving trees and shrubs. It encourages vigorous root growth and lush foliage, and is easy to use.

: For this project, I called in some help to plant. Norman and his team are fast and efficient and started planting right away.

: Norman removes the protective burlap from around the root ball. I believe removing all the material is very important, so there is nothing blocking its root growth.

: All the wrapping materials are piled in one area, so the team knows everything was taken off.

: Each shrub is slowly rolled into its designated hole.

: The shrubs are then backfilled. When planting boxwood, the root ball should be about 1/8 to two inches above the soil surface. This allows the plant to settle properly and ensures proper drainage.

: The weather forecast called for showers in the afternoon, so the team worked hard to get everything into the ground.

: Here’s another shrub getting planted. All these shrubs are in good condition, but we always position plantings with the best side facing out.

: All these shrubs are backfilled properly, but in a few weeks, they will also get a two to three inch layer of mulch made right here at my farm. It helps to retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and insulate the root ball.

: Meanwhile, José transplants a smoke bush, Cotinus, to a better location where it could get more light and space to thrive.

: After planting, José rakes the area, so it is tidy. Cotinus can grow to a moderate size – up to 15-feet tall and 10-feet wide. It also has an upright, multi-stemmed habit.

: Norman also rakes after all the boxwood shrubs are planted.

: These shrubs are spaced about three feet apart – enough room to grow but close enough to fill in the area nicely.

: In winter, these boxwood will also be covered in protective burlap to prevent snow and ice damage.

: I was so excited for this garden to be finished, I asked for photos to be sent to me while I was still busy working in New York City. I think it looks great – what do you think?