Chances are, nearly every gardener is familiar with Boxwood shrubs. They’re a staple for any gardener’s tool belt, and for very good reason!
It’s not difficult to think of some very compelling reasons as to why someone would want to plant some of these beauties in their landscape. Let’s go through a few of the most popular ones.
Their leaves are petite and plentiful. Therefore, they appear essentially seamless in the landscape. This is why people love using them for elaborate topiaries and sharp formal hedges. They take on shapes beautifully, so you can achieve just about any look that you want in the landscape. Additionally, they have a slow to moderate growth rate, so you won’t have to constantly re-shape your plants throughout the year.
We get questions all the time about deer-resistant plants, and we almost always say the same thing. Few plants are completely deer-proof from a starving deer. However, Boxwood shrubs are about as close as you can really get to deer-proof. Deer HATE the taste of their leaves. So much so, that you would be hard-pressed to find an actual account of them being eaten by deer. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t ever happened, but it does mean that as long as there is almost anything else for them to eat, they will leave your Boxwoods alone.
These are some of the most reliable shrubs that you can plant in your landscape. Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter, they don’t change much. You might have some mild lightening or darkening during particular seasons, but overall they’ll keep your landscape looking great throughout the year with minimal additional care.
There’s one for just about any landscape. Some grow quite large, some are shorter and more compact. Some grow upright, and others feature a naturally rounded growth shape. Fortunately, they all have similar planting requirements, so you really just need to pick one that suits your needs. If you want a more considerably sized variety, the Japanese Boxwood gets upwards of 8 feet tall at maturity. Therefore, this is a perfect choice if you’re trying to grow a large privacy-screen hedge. On the other side of the spectrum, the Baby Gem Boxwood reaches only 3 feet tall and wide. It also has a round growth habit that requires very little, if any, maintenance.
These plants grow well with Partial to Full Sun exposure. So try to plant them somewhere where they will have 3 or more hours of direct sun exposure.
They generally have low-water requirements across the board. So avoid planting them anywhere where that stays consistently moist. Good drainage is essential to their long-term success in the landscape.
They’re tolerant of a wide range of soil types. A neutral pH is optimal, between 6.8 and 7.5. If the soil is notably above or below that range, consider amending it with some dolomitic lime (raise pH) or elemental sulfur (lower pH).
It’s our responsibility to ship you healthy plants well-matured into their pots. We take this responsibility very seriously. We carefully choose the best plants in the crop, water them, package them, and get them on the road directly to you! If you’re unsatisfied with your order, give us a call at 1-866-618-5659 or send us an email at [email protected]. We’ll do whatever we can to make sure you’re happy with your plants.