Boxwood Shrubs - Growth and Guide

If you're considering incorporating boxwood shrubs into your garden, here's a comprehensive growth and care guide to help you achieve stunning results. Choosing the Right Variety: Before delving into the growth and care of boxwood shrubs, selecting the suitable variety for your specific needs is essential. Different boxwood species and cultivars vary in size, shape, and growth habits. Some popular types include Buxus sempervirens (common boxwood), Buxus microphylla (little leaf boxwood), and Buxus sinica var. insularis (Korean boxwood).

Consider the mature size, growth rate, and overall appearance of the boxwood variety to ensure it aligns with your landscaping vision. Optimal Planting Conditions: Boxwood shrubs prefer soil with good drainage. 

Adequate Spacing: When planting multiple boxwood shrubs, provide sufficient spacing based on the variety's mature size. Proper spacing ensures optimal air circulation, which reduces the risk of disease and promotes even growth. Regular Watering: During the establishment phase, boxwood shrubs require consistent moisture. Water deeply and regularly, especially in the first year after planting.

Once established, boxwoods are relatively drought-tolerant, but maintaining constant soil moisture is essential for their overall health and appearance. 

Pruning and Shaping: Boxwood shrubs are well-suited for shaping and pruning into various forms, such as hedges, topiaries, or geometric designs. Prune in late spring. Avoid severe pruning during hot summer, as it can stress the plant.

Fertilization Schedule: Boxwood shrubs benefit from balanced fertilization to promote healthy growth and vibrant foliage. Apply slow-release granular fertilizer before new growth appears in early spring. Avoid over-fertilization, as excessive nitrogen can lead to weak growth and susceptibility to pests.

Winter Protection: Boxwood shrubs can experience winter burn or damage during harsh winter conditions. To protect them, apply an anti-desiccant spray to the foliage in late fall. 

Pests to Watch For: Keep an eye out for common problems that affect boxwood shrubs, such as: Boxwood Leafminer: These tiny, yellowish larvae feed within the leaves, causing them to discolor and curl. Prune affected branches and consider releasing natural predators like parasitic wasps.

Boxwood Mites: Mites cause bronzing and discoloration of leaves. Regularly hose down your boxwood to remove dust and mites, and consider applying horticultural oil as a preventive measure. Boxwood Psyllid: Psyllids cause small bumps or blisters on leaves and emit a sticky substance called honeydew. Prune affected areas and consider introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs to control populations.

Avoid Overcrowding: Avoid overcrowding boxwood shrubs as it can increase vulnerability to disease. Proper spacing also allows each shrub to receive adequate sunlight and nutrients. Fall Feeding: Besides spring fertilization, consider providing a light feeding of balanced fertilizer in the fall. This will support the plant's growth as it prepares for winter dormancy.

Regular Monitoring: Inspect your boxwood shrubs for any signs of stress, disease, or pest infestations. Catching issues early allows prompt intervention and increases the likelihood of successful treatment. Soil pH Maintenance: Monitor the soil pH around your boxwood shrubs to ensure it remains within the preferred range of slightly acidic to neutral.

Adjust soil pH if needed using appropriate amendments. Transplanting Care: If you need to transplant a boxwood shrub in early spring or late fall when the weather is more relaxed, and the plant is less stressed. Be sure to provide proper aftercare, including consistent watering and mulching.

Site Selection: Consider the boxwood shrub's mature size and growth habit when selecting a planting site. Choose a location where the shrub has enough space to grow without overcrowding.

Cultivar-Specific Considerations: Different boxwood cultivars have varying growth rates, sizes, and tolerances. Research the specific requirements of the cultivar you're planting to ensure you provide the optimal conditions for its growth. Container Gardening: If you have limited space or want to showcase boxwood shrubs on patios or balconies, consider planting them in containers.

Take the time to step back and appreciate the transformation they bring to your outdoor space.

In conclusion, boxwood shrubs are a timeless and versatile addition to any garden. By understanding their growth requirements, from proper planting techniques to ongoing care, you can ensure that these evergreen beauties thrive and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your landscape.

Whether shaping them into formal hedges or allowing them to shine as standalone specimens, boxwood shrubs can create a lasting impact and a sense of refined elegance in your outdoor environment.

Green Velvet Boxwood - TN Nursery

Green Velvet Boxwood 6-8"

Green Velvet Boxwood is a compact, evergreen shrub with vibrant, dark leaves and a mounded growth habit, making it an ideal choice for low hedges and formal landscaping. It is a highly advantageous and popular evergreen shrub that offers numerous benefits in landscaping projects. This shrub variety is admired for its compact, rounded growth habit and lush, deep foliage. One of the primary benefits of incorporating it into landscaping is its versatility in design. Green Velvet Boxwood is an excellent choice if you are trying to create a beautiful landscape design. Known for its dense foliage, this shrub is ideal for pruning into almost any shape. This bush will look its best throughout the year thanks to its evergreen nature. Discover the Natural Beauty Of Green Velvet Boxwood (Buxus 'Green Velvet') If you are looking for a low hedge, this is one of the best shrubs. This full-bodied hedge is quite dense and can be used as a fence. It is considered an evergreen, so you can enjoy your garden's color year-round. Whether you are passionate about English landscaping or want a formal design, this verdant bush is ideal for pruning. If you don’t prune it, this bush will grow into a rounded shape. Once pruned, you can use it to make just about any shape you want for a unique, living sculpture. Green Velvet Boxwood Is An Evergreen This verdant shrub has a velvety appearance that leaves a vivid impression on the viewer. Thanks to its evergreen color, you can enjoy rich light and dark shades. Old growth has a darker shade, and the newer growth has lighter colors. This adds a fun texture and extra dimension for the viewer. Green Velvet Boxwood Naturally Grows Round This is one of the best shrubs to make. It grows in a natural sphere, so you can always let it grow into its natural shape. You can group multiple shrubs to make a fence, maze, or sculpture. Green Velvet Boxwoods Have Fragrant Blooms  Best of all, this lovely shrub is easy to care for and survives in many types of environments. While its glossy leaves are present throughout the year, it flowers only during the springtime. When flowering occurs, you can enjoy having fragrant white blossoms. Green Velvet Boxwood is an excellent choice whether you want an elegant fence or round bushes for a border. With its verdant leaves and fragrant blossoms, it is a favorite of homeowners. Once you plant this shrub, you can enjoy its beauty throughout the year. What Are The Requirements For Growing Green Velvet Boxwoods  Green Velvet Boxwoods are adaptable to sun exposures with or without shade and require well-draining soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. They are well suited to different climates but should be watered frequently during the first year after transplantation.  What fertilizer does Green Velvet Boxwood require  Apply a slow-release, appropriate for shrubs, and have a 10-10-10 or 14-14-14 analysis during the early spring. Do not over-fertilize the plant because this may make it prone to attacks by diseases.  How long does Green Velvet Boxwood take to grow  Green Velvet Boxwood is actually a rather slow-growing plant that may only grow up to 3-6 inches in a year. Despite this, the plant may take several years to grow into a fully grown, sprawling plant with a typical height and spread of 3-4ft.  How quickly do boxwoods grow  Green Velvet, together with all other boxwoods, is characterized by a slow-growing to moderately-growing nature. These trees can expand approximately 3-6 inches per year and are well suited to low-maintenance gardens and parade hedge rows.  What Are The Advantages Of Green Velvet Boxwood  Green Velvet Boxwood has an upright and bushy growth habit and small, bright green leaves that remain colorful throughout the year. It is highly adaptable to most conditions; once established, it can even be grown under very dry conditions, and it is usually grown specifically for hedges or borders or even planted alone in a particular landscape.

Green Mountain Boxwood - TN Nursery

Green Mountain Boxwood 6-10"

Green Mountain Boxwood is a compact, evergreen shrub with dark, oval-shaped leaves that offers a formal and neat appearance in gardens and landscapes. It is a versatile and highly beneficial evergreen shrub with numerous advantages in landscaping projects. This variety is admired for its compact, upright growth habit and lush, dark foliage. Green Mountain Boxwood is a conifer bush popular with landscapers, topiary artists, and gardeners. It's also known as Buxus microphylla var. japonica or Buxus X. Some gardeners call it the shrub. It's native to Asia and Europe and typically grows between three and five feet tall. Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x 'Green Mountain') Is A Evergreen  The hedge is an evergreen, meaning the leaves retain color all year. The only exception is in winter if it's exposed to full sunlight. In that instance, the leaves may turn bronze. However, they only stay bronze for a short time. This popular hedge grows to a height of five feet and typically has a width or spread between two and three feet. It's prized for its dense foliage, which makes it easy to prune and shape. Gardeners can expect it to grow an average of three inches per year and reach a height of three feet within the first ten years. It can be identified by the opposite arrangement of its leaves and by its square stems. Gardeners and landscapers commonly use it as a foundation hedge, living fence, hedge maze, or mass planting for sculpting purposes. It's highly prized for its ability to take on topiary forms. The Blooms Of The Green Mountain Boxwood In the spring, it grows clusters of yellow, tan, or gold flowers. The fragrant blossoms attract butterflies, bees, and even hummingbirds. These characteristics make it the perfect outline for flower, knot, and butterfly gardens. Plants That Do Well Next To Green Mountain Boxwood  It does well alongside many other shrubs, bushes, and flowers. Some favorites include lilacs, roses, lavender, tulips, daffodils, Russian sage, petunias and peonies. Use Your Imagination And Skill To Shape Your Green Mountain Boxwoods Green Mountain Boxwood is a popular and preferred shrub by many landscapers and gardeners. It can form living fences and hedge mazes and outline flower beds and knot gardens. Skilled horticulturalists can even shape this beautiful shrub into elegant and eye-catching pieces of living art pieces. How Fast Do Green Mountain Boxwoods Grow  Green Mountain boxwoods are slow to moderately growing, with height increases of 3 to 6 inches per year. When mature, it may grow to be 3-5 feet tall, thus perfect for formal hedges or pruned shapes.  What are the requirements for the Green Mountain boxwoods to thrive  Green Mountain boxwoods are adaptable as long as they get sunlight, but they do well in partial shade; they also do well in well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of slight acidity to neutral. It is a cold-tolerant plant that prefers vented conditions to minimize diseases and pest incidences in the compounds.  When should I water Green Mountain boxwoods  Water once weekly during the growing season, more frequently if the conditions experienced are hot or dry. New plants or just transplanted shrubs require slightly more water to establish good root systems but do not allow it to waterlog the soil.  What type of fertilizer should one use on Green Mountain boxwood  Don't apply large amounts of nitrogen, but use a slow-release fertilizer that contains equal portions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium during the early spring. Do not over-fertilize since this is counterproductive to growth and apply the fertilizer at the recommended rates as indicated in the packs.  How Do I Make My Green Mountain boxwoods Grow Bigger  To achieve bigger expansion, plant Green Mountain boxwoods in soil with better fertility and an area with appropriate exposure to sunlight. The plants require maintenance and, therefore, should be pruned to get rid of weak branches. Regular supply of water as well as shelter from strong winter gusts contributes to good vegetation.

Wintergreen Boxwood - TN Nursery

Wintergreen Boxwood 6-10"

Wintergreen Boxwood is popular for hedges and formal garden designs due to its dense, glossy green foliage and rounded growth habit. It is a small evergreen shrub. It is a popular evergreen shrub commonly used in landscaping for its outstanding attributes. This compact and versatile plant hails from the Buxaceae family and is native to Japan and Korea. Its name, 'Wintergreen,' is derived from its glossy, dark green leaves, which retain their vibrant color throughout the winter months, making it an attractive option for providing year-round interest in gardens and landscapes. The Classic Appeal of Wintergreen Boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Wintergreen') Wintergreen Boxwood is an excellent option for landscapers looking for a medium-sized shrub. This plant consists of narrow, deep brown stems with a thick coating of small, green leaves. It can grow to around three feet in height and five feet in width. This plant's dense hedges and elegant appearance allow it to work well in any area where you want a traditional shrub. Attractive Leaves of Wintergreen Boxwood The main appeal of this plant is its extensive greenery. The entire shrub contains small, oval-shaped leaves that grow every inch or two along the plant's stems. The leaves have a smooth appearance, minimal veining, and a very regular shape. They're a deep green color, one shade darker than emerald green. This thick mass of green leaves gives the shrub a very even appearance, making it a lovely backdrop for other items in your landscape. It has an understated elegance that can complement any location. Enhance Your Landscape With Wintergreen Boxwoods It is a favorite of gardeners because it is happy to take on whatever shape you desire. Many people like to trim this shrub into tidy cubes or orbs that line their fences, sidewalks, and walls. Some gardeners also enjoy pruning it into cones or other decorative shapes to create an eye-catching focal point on the landscape. If you prefer to leave it natural, it creates dense, oval shrubs that are an excellent filler for tree borders or more extensive flowerbeds. Lush Color All Year Round With Wintergreen Boxwood As you can tell from the name of Wintergreen Boxwood, one of its main characteristics is its ability to stay green throughout the winter. As an evergreen, this shrub looks bright and beautiful no matter the time of year. It doesn't change colors in fall, and its leaves won't fall off in the winter. Instead, it provides a touch of brilliant green to your landscape every season. This cheerful burst of greenery can keep your garden lively throughout the year. How Fast Do Wintergreen Boxwoods Grow  Winter Green boxwoods are slow to moderately fast growing, reaching only 2- to 4 inches in height per year. These hardy shrubs, if well taken care of, can grow to a standard height of between 3-4 feet and are therefore recommended for low hedges and decoration borders.  What conditions do Wintergreen boxwoods need to grow?  Winter Green boxwoods do best in part-to-full sun and like loamy soil with neutral pH. The animal obviously wants to live somewhere it can get away from gusts of wind and freezing temperatures.  How often should I water boxwoods?  For the growing season, water the Boxwoods deeply every week, and maybe more frequently if the weather is hot and dry. It is important not to water your shrubs too frequently; however, the soil must be moist every time- most especially for the newly planted ones.  What kind of fertilizer do Winter Green boxwoods require?  Fertilizer is also an important aspect for the wintergreen boxwood; use an organic slow-release fertilizer of choice with NPK; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium of 10:10:10 being recommended. Fertilize in early Spring and avoid applying fertilizer in Fall to avoid creating new growth that will be killed by frost.  How Do I Make My Wintergreen Boxwoods Grow Bigger  For the purpose of getting large and strong boxwoods be very careful while choosing the site; it should be rich in nutrients and have good drainage and Sunlight. For effective airflow, there is always the need to trim weaker branches that may be growing close to the main stem.

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