Boxwood Shrub

With its compact shape and dense, dark foliage, it keeps a sharp design and beautiful appearance when trimmed. This versatile shrub is an easy to care for addition to the landscape.

Growing Conditions

Boxwood shrubs prefer partial shade, but will tolerate full sun. Provide well-drained soil, rich in organic material. Two or three inches of organic mulch will keep the soil cool and reduce weeds.

Water boxwood shrubs thoroughly once a week throughout the first growing season, until the roots are well established.

Feed with a time-released fertilizer in late winter or early spring, and again later in the growing season. Trim the shrub in early winter to open it up to air circulation.

Because the plant has a dense, compact shape, it is important to brush off snow buildup to keep the shape from becoming distorted from the weight.

Planting

Plant boxwoods in either spring or fall. Although this plant is a favorite for foundation plantings, do not plant under eaves or gutter downspouts where water can drip and keep the soil wet.

A few inches of peat moss added at planting will help with drainage. Replenish the mulch every year.

To plant the shrub, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and only as deep as its container. Place the shrub in the hole and gradually backfill, eliminating air pockets and firming the soil around the plant.

Water well and add a mulch of pine needles or wood chips. For hedge plantings, allow three feet of spacing between plants.

Pruning

Shearing the plant yearly encourages new branches and thick, lush growth. Once the plant has reached a good thickness, shear only to create and maintain the shape.

Prune dead or diseased branches and strays that do not fit the shape desired. Remove some older branches to allow air and light to reach into the shrub's new growth.

For a boxy shape, cut straight across the top first, then the front and sides. For a rounded shape, form the top curve first, and then work around the shrub to create the shape.

For topiaries, work from the bottom up to define the trunk and provide support with a bamboo stake.

Boxwoods are grown from cuttings to ensure they will have the same form as the parent plant. For pyramid, cone, globe, prostrate or dwarf varieties, look for these specific varieties when purchasing boxwood shrubs. They will have the growth habit that you want and maintaining their shape will be simpler.

Boxwood shrubs are an elegant, easy care plant that adds formal style to the landscape, whether as foundation plantings, garden borders or hedges.