Boxwood Shrubs

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The Complete Guide to Boxwood Shrubs Picking the Perfect Boxwood Shrub Most plant problems come from putting the wrong variety in the wrong place. Use these guidelines to help you find the right place to plant your boxwood. Choose the right variety to fit your space. Depending on the variety, boxwoods can vary in height from one foot to over 5 feet. If planting in front of a low window or creating a border for your flower bed, you might want to choose Dwarf English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens var. suffruticosa) or Green Velvet Boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis). If you are looking for a tall screening hedge, American Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) will grow the largest. Wintergreen Boxwood (Buxus microphylla) is a nice mid-sized choice for flanking an entryway. Shrub expert Dr. Michael Dirr has described boxwoods as having "superb deer resistance." Try them where you've had trouble with browsing. How to Plant Your Boxwood Shrub Boxwoods have the potential to be very long-lived shrubs. If the right selection is put into the right growing environment (see above), they are generally trouble-free, low-care plants. Following some simple planting guidelines can help ensure your boxwoods live a long, happy and beautiful life. Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) grow best in loose, well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter. If you are planting in less-than-ideal soil (such as the compacted "builder fill dirt" that surrounds many foundations), work in some compost or other soil amendments around where you plan to plant your boxwoods. This will help the soil around your boxwoods retain the right amount of moisture (they hate to be dry!) but also drain well (they also hate waterlogged soil!). After planting, mulch the area to help conserve moisture around their shallow roots. Once they've been planted, try not to disturb them with digging or tilling too close-by. Boxwood can be damaged or take on a bronze color in winter if it is exposed to drying winds. Site them where they have