Boxwood is a genus belonging to the Samshitov family, which includes almost one hundred species. These plants are native to East Asia and the Mediterranean. Boxwood is also called buxus - this name comes from ancient Greece.
The plant is grown both on the streets and as indoor flowers. It is a shrub or tree with opposite leathery oval foliage.
Boxwood is a honey plant, but honey should not be eaten as it is poisonous. Among the abundance of boxwood species, not so many are cultivated. In our gardens you can mainly see the following species and varieties:
Varieties and types
Mainly grown as a tree, quite rarely found as a shrub. The stems are abundantly covered with shiny matte foliage. The inflorescences are light green. It is quite sensitive to frost. Varieties developed from this species: suffruticosis , Blauer Heinz , Elegance and others.
This species can withstand cold temperatures better than evergreen buxus. We grow varieties Faulkner And Winter Jam .
A species that grows very slowly and can withstand very low temperatures, and also lives a long time.
The plant has fairly large foliage, grows quickly, but does not tolerate frost.
Boxwood planting and care in open ground
Having decided to plant boxwood at home, you need to find out how best to do it and what conditions need to be prepared. Best time For planting, this is the beginning of autumn, because the plant needs to have time to take root before the cold weather.
The lighting of the planting area should not be abundant - this plant needs shade. The soil used for planting is clayey, loose, and contains lime.
The day before planting, the material is placed in a container with water or the container with the plant is watered abundantly, so that later it is easier to remove it from the soil.
The hole for planting is needed three times larger than the previous earthen coma. A couple of centimeters of perlite are placed at the bottom of the hole as a drainage layer. The soil from the hole is also mixed with perlite.
The roots of the plant must be straightened and carefully lowered into the hole, covering it with substrate so that the layer is dense and there are no air cavities left in it. After this, the boxwood should be watered generously with rainwater. After watering, the soil will compact and settle; add a little more substrate to the top of the hole.
Make sure that the axle box barrel is placed exclusively vertically. Make a mound in a circle twenty centimeters from the tree, and cover the area inside the shaft with a thin layer of perlite. This is done so that all the liquid gets to the tree when watering.
Watering boxwood
In general, caring for boxwood is not difficult; it follows the usual logic of caring for plants.
If it is hot outside and there is no rain, then water it once every seven days. You need to use approximately 10 liters per meter tree.
If the weather is very dry, then there is no need to water more often, but you need to increase the amount of water. After watering, you should loosen the soil and remove weeds.
In May, when it becomes quite warm, you need to cover the area with peat mulch, but do not allow the peat to come into contact with the tree stem.
Fertilizers for boxwood
Also important point is a fertilizer. The first time it should be done 30 days after planting (in case of planting in the spring. If you planted the buxus in the fall, then this feeding is not necessary).
And then you need to feed the boxwood during the growing season. For this they use organic fertilizers or complex mineral supplements. In the autumn, when the site is dug up, the plant is fertilized with fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus, but without nitrogen.
Boxwood transplant
Transplanting boxwood should also not cause you any difficulties. It is best to carry out the procedure in the spring, following the same steps as when planting. Adult plants must be moved to a new place along with a lump of earth.
The tree can also be replanted in summer, but a spring that is not too hot is best suited for this.
It is not advisable to start this procedure in the fall, because the plants are quite sensitive after transplantation, and they still need to take root and get used to the new growing location.
Boxwood pruning
In mid-spring you need to prune the boxwood. The bush can be given the shape you want. Having given the crown its shape, in the future you will just need to occasionally correct it.
Pruning is painless for the tree and it begins to branch even more. But remember that frequent cutting will lead to the fact that the boxwood will need to be fertilized more often so that it has enough nutrients that are synthesized in the trimmed foliage.
Boxwood shelter for the winter
A very difficult time for buxus is winter and the beginning of spring. In winter it gets very cold, and with the arrival of spring it can burn in the warm sun.
Therefore, in order to save the tree, even before frost arrives, you need to thoroughly saturate the area with the plant with moisture and cover it with mulch (peat). It is impossible to cover the soil with dry leaves, as it can cause fungi in the boxwood. As the temperature drops to -10ºC, you need to prepare a shelter from the cold.
If you have a standard tree, then they make a support for it so that the piercing winter wind does not damage the trunk, and wrap it in spruce branches. Bushy plants and those with a crown also need to be covered. To do this, use non-woven material, which is wrapped around the tree a couple of times.
To prevent branches from breaking under the weight of snow, they are tied. With the onset of spring, the shelter is immediately removed, as the axle can get in the way. One ball of shelter is left in order to protect the trees from being burned by the warm spring sun.
Boxwood from seeds
For propagation of boxwood it is usually used vegetative method, but sometimes the use of seeds is also found.
To grow buxus from seeds, you need to take only fresh seeds. They are filled with warm water diluted with a growth stimulating agent for a day. Next, they need to be placed between a pair of damp towels (but not wet). They will remain in this state for about thirty days. After 15-20 days, white sprouts will appear.
With the formation of sprouts, the seeds are sown in sand mixed with peat, the sprouts should go deeper into the substrate.
Containers with planted material are covered with film and kept in a warm, shaded place. After about 15-20 days, the first shoots will appear. After this, the film must be removed and the container with boxwood must be moved to partial shade.
Young plants need to be watered from time to time and fertilized with a weak solution of fertilizers. Grown trees are planted in the soil when it becomes clear that frost will not return.
Boxwood propagation by cuttings
In spring, boxwood can be taken from cuttings. For this purpose, young stems up to 15 cm long, which have not yet become completely lignified, are used. The material must be cut at an angle. After this, a third of the leaves are torn off, and the cuttings are soaked for a day in a means to enhance root formation.
After this, the branches need to be washed and can be planted in the soil. The main condition for the substrate is nutritional value. The branches are lowered into the ground right up to the foliage and covered with a jar. Ventilate and spray the plants every day. After a couple of months, the jar is removed, since by this time the rhizome is formed.
If you propagate buxus in the fall, then plant the cuttings in pots, because in open ground they will not survive the winter, even under insulation. And in the spring you can transplant the seedlings to an open area.
Reproduction of boxwood by layering
The use of layering is also practiced. According to the usual scheme, the branches are bent to the soil and dug in.
Diseases and pests
- Another reason for yellowing and drying of leaves is spider mite , which most often appears in hot weather.
- Spots on leaves and their drying out may be associated with burns resulting from excess light.
- Boxwood is also vulnerable to shoot necrosis, which manifests itself in spots on the foliage and the death of twigs .
- Your plant will not grow well , with a lack of nutrients.
- Boxwood can also suffer from plant cancer . In case of this disease, cut off all diseased areas, along with adjacent healthy parts.
Recently, more and more people have begun to grow it as a home indoor plant. Reason - beneficial features, which boxwood possesses. The plant releases phytoncides into the air. These volatile substances are able to neutralize harmful bacteria that accumulate in the air. It also has a pleasant smell that is released during flowering or when the leaves are pressed.
It should be noted that for indoor growing Only three types of plants are suitable:
- small-leaved. Maximum length the leaves of such boxwood reach 2.5 cm;
- Bolearic. This plant has larger leaves, up to 4.5 cm;
- evergreen. This type of boxwood is the most common. The length of its leaves reaches three centimeters.
You should pay attention to the fact that evergreen boxwood is quite whimsical at home. If not proper care it can easily shed its leaves.
Boxwood - growing features
So how to care for evergreen boxwood at home? This is not ordinary indoor flowerpot, which is enough to water a few times a month and forget about it. It requires careful and thorough care.
Growing boxwood in an apartment is not that difficult. Ideal place for this plant there is a windowsill, to which there is direct access sun rays. It can also grow in low light, but then the boxwood will look more like an ornamental plant.
It is important to know that you do not need to replant it often. Once every three years is enough. When replanting, the soil should not be homogeneous, but consist of the following parts:
- 4 parts of turf land;
- 2 parts leaf soil;
- 1 part coarse sand.
Plant care
In order for boxwood to please you with rapid growth, you need to remember the recommendations of experts.
- Lighting. Boxwood loves bright, diffused light. Although in summer it is better to hide it a little from the direct midday sun. If the plant is in the garden, then it should be placed in the shade of taller trees or shrubs.
- Temperature. In winter, the optimum temperature is around 5°C, and in spring the temperature should not drop below 12°C. In summer the usual will be enough room temperature. But do not forget that boxwood is to be loved open air, so it is advisable to take it out onto the balcony or into the yard in the summer.
- Watering. In winter this should not be abused. You need to watch the plant and water it as needed. But in the summer you need to water boxwood abundantly and often. It is very important that the roots of the plant do not dry out, otherwise it will be impossible to propagate it later.
- Air humidity. Boxwood is a moisture-loving plant. You don’t have to be afraid to spray it with settled water from time to time.
- Fertilizer. To keep boxwood healthy and evergreen, you can feed it with the same fertilizer that is used for azaleas. This is best done from March to August, every two weeks.
These rules will be enough for the plant to please its owners for many years.
Boxwood propagation
With proper care, evergreen boxwood can be propagated quite easily at home. You should pay attention to the fact that this plant propagates using cuttings and seeds.
It is best to take cuttings at the end of summer. It should have two or three internodes and be no longer than seven centimeters. Then the plant will take root and will grow and bloom for a long time.
Place the prepared cuttings in water until roots appear or place them directly in a pot with soil.
Now everyone knows how to care for boxwood and can independently create a unique atmosphere of a Garden of Eden in their apartment, which remains evergreen for many years.
To grow a beautiful one at the dacha evergreen boxwood, you need to know not only how to plant it, but also the features of caring for it.
Boxwood, like no other plant, is suitable for creating figures and compositions from coniferous plants, is considered a classic in the use of topiary art.
It is not particularly demanding to care for, so even an amateur gardener can grow it.
Let's start by planting boxwood.
Place and soil
Choose a site that is not directly exposed to sunlight; in winter, such a site will be ruinous. Plant boxwood only in partial shade.
The soil should be nutritious, loam with deep groundwater, drained so that the water does not stagnate, and not acidic. If necessary, liming should be done to increase the pH level. IN sandy soil add ready-made compost. If there are no conditions for planting boxwood, do not worry, it can be grown in tubs.
Landing
Boxwood can be planted in spring and autumn. Rooting requires at least 1 month; in the fall, this should be taken into account so that the first frosts do not destroy the plant. The day before planting the boxwood, water it thoroughly so that the plant comes out of the pot without any problems. Dig a planting hole 3-3.5 times larger and deeper than the plant’s earthen ball. Place a 2-3 cm layer of drainage at the bottom of the hole; perlite is good for this. Mix the excavated soil with perlite in a 1:1 ratio. Install the bush, straightening the roots so that they do not bend and gradually fill the hole to the surface, deepening the plant to the height of growth in the container. Compact the soil with your hands so that there are no voids left inside. Water with rainwater or water that has stood for 24 hours. Calculate the required volume of water based on the height of the seedling (for 15-20 cm - 3 liters of water). The soil will begin to sag, then add mixed soil with perlite, but without compaction. Not far from the bush, at a distance of 20-30 cm, make an earthen mound in a circle so that the water does not spread when watering.
Keep the distance depending on the purpose:
- between certain types 3-4 m, in the case of a hedge or creating a composition it is reduced to 25 cm,
- but to frame the flower beds, seedlings 10-15 cm high are planted every 10 cm (after planting, cut by 1/3).
Care
Boxwood is unpretentious, it is not damaged by diseases and pests, since the plant itself is poisonous. However, despite such fearlessness, winter for evergreen shrubs is still dangerous with its drying winds, temperature changes, thaw and the possibility of getting sunburn. During this time, boxwood may die from frostbite, excess moisture, or vice versa from dried soil. To prevent this, before the expected frosts, water the plant well and mulch with peat. Do not use dry leaves as mulch for the winter, as they can ripen and cause fungal disease.
In stable frosty weather of -10°C, insulate the boxwood (spherical) with a wooden box, making holes for ventilation. Low growing varieties can be covered with non-woven material. Be sure to tie the bushes to the support so that the thickness of the snow does not break off the branches. Tall varieties cover boxwood with burlap close to the bush. In early spring remove the cover (first release bottom part, after 5-7 days the entire bush), remove the snow near the plant so that the soil begins to warm up faster. Mature shrubs are possible. You can increase winter hardiness potassium fertilizer, which will lead to faster lignification of shoots.
Among the winter-hardy varieties of boxwood, it is worth highlighting “Blauer Heinz”, “Handsworthiensis”, “Herrenhausen”, “Buxus Sempervirens”. 
Apply fertilizing weekly during the active growth phase (April-September); during the dormant period, it makes no sense to do this, just like pruning. The Baikal EM-1 fertilizer and solution are suitable for this.
Adult plants (3-8 years old) can easily tolerate replanting at any time of the year, except winter.
Caring for boxwood in tubs. In dry and hot weather, the soil in pots dries out quickly, so water the plant daily. From April you spend regular feeding liquid type, which can be combined with watering. Reddening of the leaves is a sure sign of nitrogen deficiency. For the winter, place the boxwood pot in an even larger container, filling the voids with crushed bark. In this form, place the plant on 2 wooden blocks to avoid direct contact with the soil.
Boxwood pruning
Trim these evergreens monthly between April and September and they will reward you with lush and dense foliage in return. Do not forget that the more often the haircut, the more watering and fertilizing is required to replenish vitality. For pruning, it is convenient to use scissors with short blades.
Pruning is carried out in April-May, depending on weather and climatic conditions.
Boxwood grows slowly, so at first, do only formative (corrective) pruning. Rejuvenation is carried out only on adult shapeless specimens.
To form a spherical shape of a boxwood, it is convenient to use a template that is sold in stores or cut out half the diameter of the ball from cardboard, attach it to the bush and trim off all branches protruding beyond the template.
It will take years to form a boxwood ball on a trunk, but it is worth it.
To do this, trim all side shoots to the desired height, and shorten the rest for better branching.
Remove young growths at the bottom of the trunk to form a beautiful “lollipop”.
Reproduction
Boxwood is propagated by cuttings:
- Cuttings are taken either at the end of June or at the beginning of September. Each should have 2-3 internodes, i.e. approximately 10 cm long.
- Remove the lower leaves, leaving only the top 2, dip the ends in a growth stimulator and plant in a container with a substrate (peat and garden soil at a ratio of 1:1).
- Cover with a glass jar.
- You can also plant cuttings in a cold greenhouse, maintaining high humidity air.
- Water every other day, sparingly.
- After 3-4 weeks, the cuttings will take root, and by autumn they can be transplanted to permanent place. N
- and be sure to cover it with spruce branches in winter.
If you see that the cuttings are not strong enough to be transplanted, then move them indoors to the windowsill until spring.
According to many gardeners, it is better to plant two or three evergreens in the garden than one deciduous one, even if it is flowering.
The main argument is that they decorate the area all year round, and not just in the summer. Perhaps the most popular evergreen– boxwood (buxus sempervirens) from the Boxwood family.
It can be a shrub, a small tree or a huge tree. If the growing conditions are favorable, then boxwood will have no equal in the number of years lived - its lifespan reaches up to six centuries.
Such longevity is one of the reasons for its incredible popularity in landscaping not only private personal plots and gardens, but also city parks and squares.
The priority of boxwood lies in its unpretentiousness, easy care and attractive appearance.
Thanks to its powerful, dense crown, which also grows slowly, this plant perfectly forms amazing figures that decorate any landscape.
The Samshitov genus includes approximately one hundred species of plants found in Africa, northern Mexico, and Cuba.
The largest natural habitats of boxwood can be called southern part Europe, the foothills of the Caucasus, China and Japan.
On the territory of Russia, wild boxwood is found in Krasnodar region, in the Adygea Republic, in the Caucasus gorges.
But in the natural environment, wild boxwood is becoming less and less due to negative environmental complications and barbaric logging. The shrub is listed in the Red Book.
Attention! When choosing a type or variety of boxwood, focus primarily on how it is adapted to climatic conditions growing region, on its frost resistance and growth rate.
To date, there is information about about 40 types of boxwood buxus, but only a few of them are used in ornamental gardening.
Boxwood evergreen
In most cases it looks like a tree, sometimes it is grown as a shrub. Small cropped figures and balls are well formed from it.
Characteristic– the direction of growth of hard shoots is exactly vertical.
This species is taken as the basis for breeding such popular varieties, like Suffruticose, Elegans, Blauer Heinz.
Low temperatures are not tolerated very well, except for Blauer Heinz. This variety has important quality– good frost resistance.
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Small-leaved boxwood
Small-leaved boxwood has an advantage over evergreen, expressed in better frost resistance.
Due to its low growth, it is convenient to form various green sculptures from it.
The appearance of this low-growing shrub (many gardeners call it dwarf) is quite compact and neat even without trimming.
IN winter time the color of the foliage becomes bronze. Winter Jam and Faulkner (Buxus microphylla Faulkner) have gained the greatest popularity.
Colchian boxwood can be called the slowest growing of all plants of the species.
This shrub has such a dense crown that sunlight does not pass through it.
Easily tolerates fairly low temperatures, this advantage makes it especially popular in middle lane Russia.
A characteristic feature of this species is large leaves and rapid growth.
But low temperature not for him, so this boxwood in the Moscow region, for example, will not survive.
Evergreen boxwood has been cultivated since time immemorial; it is considered the oldest ornamental plant.
Buxus feels great and personal plot, and on the windowsill in the apartment.
In the southern regions, where the climate is milder and warmer, they decorate garden paths, calling it border boxwood, they make hedges out of it.
Since boxwood bushes are easy to trim, a garden or lawn decorated with them looks very impressive.
This plant is ideal for bonsai lovers - this is where you can let your creative juices flow!
Little ones sheet plates green boxwood make it an excellent material for forming funny figures that will fit into any interior.
Where to plant boxwood
Before planting boxwood, think carefully about the choice of location, because it will take five or six centuries to grow there. It's scary to think!
Remember! Boxwood is poisonous. Take this into account when choosing a planting location; it should be away from the playground and children's room. Keep an eye on your animals so they don't eat it.
Boxwood trees have some requirements for the composition of the soil. They will grow and develop well in soil with moderate moisture, where groundwater are not close to the surface.
The best soil for boxwood – sandstone or loam.
It should not be heavy and sour.
If the soil does not meet these requirements, first take the measures necessary to improve its structure.
Planting boxwood is a responsible undertaking. It is necessary to take into account all the preferences and claims of the plant, since it will be in the same place for several centuries.
Important! They apply pressure on a boxwood tree Negative influence direct sunlight, because the best place for boxwood it is partial shade.
Direct rays of the merciless, hot sun cause burns to boxwood leaves, they lose their shine and brightness of color. Nevertheless, the buxus tolerates the summer heat calmly.
He feels good under the crown of a tree, completely ignoring its powerful roots.
It is clear that boxwood, planted as a hedge, cannot be protected from exposure to direct sun, but in this case, regular trimming of the boxwood will help maintain its decorative appearance.
Boxwood trees and shrubs, being evergreen, continue to grow in winter. But just like in the summer, it’s harmful for them solar lighting.
Clear frosty weather can harm boxwood planted on open place. It's all about evaporation, which dries out the foliage.
And in conditions of frozen ground root system does not replenish water losses, dehydration occurs and the plant dies.
When to plant
Experienced gardeners They consider the best time to plant boxwood to be autumn, September-early October, it all depends on the region of residence.
Keep in mind that the seedling needs time (about a month) to take root well, otherwise it simply will not survive the winter.
It is quite possible for the axle to land in open ground in spring and summer time, but then growing boxwood will require more care and attention: protect it from the sun, water it on time, etc.
Correct fit
To get a strong, healthy plant and not have to put a lot of effort into caring for it, choose the right planting material, - it must be of high quality, without visible damage.
First of all, inspect the foliage - dark green color, glossiness and elasticity indicate its health. It should feel dense and “leathery” to the touch. Another sign of the quality of a seedling is its good branching.
A day before planting, place pots with bushes in containers bigger size and fill them with water.
What is it for? Firstly, the moisture will nourish the roots of the plants, which will help them to take root better, and secondly, you can easily remove the boxwood seedlings from the pots without damaging them.
Be sure to carefully straighten the roots to prevent them from intertwining in the future, thereby ensuring high-quality formation of the root system.
How to plant:
- For each seedling, dig your own hole so that visually its volume is three times the volume of the rhizome.
- Place special drainage at the bottom, best if it is a layer of perlite mixed with excavated soil, 2-3 cm high.
- Place the bush in the hole, spreading the roots evenly, and cover it with soil, trying to avoid the formation of voids.
- Lightly tamp the soil down tree trunk circle and water. To water a seedling about 20 cm high, 3 liters of well-settled or rainwater is required.
- Wait until the soil settles, add more earth, but do not compact it, but make an earthen roller that will prevent liquid from spilling when watering.
- Fill the tree trunk circle with perlite (1-2 cm in height).
The next watering after planting should be a week later, unless it rains during this time. Water early in the morning or after sunset.
Advice! To form a border, plant 10 bushes (13-15 cm in height) per 1 linear meter. After planting, water and cut by 1/3.
After 4 weeks the bushes will take root. Throughout this period, make sure that the soil is constantly moist, water once a week or as the soil dries out.
Over time, increase the intervals between waterings.
The best time to transplant boxwood
Boxwood is usually replanted in the spring so that it takes root well during the summer and autumn and then successfully overwinters.
Advice! When transplanting adult plants, try to make the earthen ball larger. This will prevent stress, and the shrub will easily take root in a new place.
Transplanting a plant is, in principle, no different from planting a seedling - the rules are the same.
Their sequential implementation will lead to good result.
Boxwood propagation
Typically, boxwood propagation occurs vegetatively, but sometimes the seed method is used.
In this case, you need to keep in mind that boxwood seeds remain viable for quite a short time, and this is a troublesome and very lengthy task.
But if there is no other way to propagate boxwood, read the instructions below.
From seeds
The seeds must be ripe and freshly harvested.
- immerse them in warm water with a growth stimulator dissolved in it, keep the container with the seeds in a warm place for 24 hours;
- drain the water, and spread the seeds on half of a damp napkin, covering them with the other half, place the saucer with the napkin in a warm place, but not in the sun;
- Make sure that the napkin is constantly damp; the seeds should hatch within a month;
- As soon as white sprouts appear, you can sow in a substrate prepared in advance: 1 part peat + 1 part sand. Place the seed so that the sprout is directed into the soil;
- pull it onto the container transparent film or put glass. The container should be in a semi-shaded, warm place;
- in 2-3 weeks the seeds will sprout. Remove the cover, but leave the container in the same place; there is no need to expose it to the sun;
- Water and feed the seedlings regularly using regular houseplant fertilizers, but dilute them with twice as much water.
Plant in open ground when the plants reach a height of 12-14 cm.
Cuttings
Propagating boxwood by cuttings is the most popular and fastest method. It is best to carry out this operation in July or August so that the planted plants take root and become stronger before winter.
Prepare the area for planting cuttings:
- dig up;
- remove weeds;
- Pour thoroughly with warm water.
The garden bed should not be in direct sunlight; it is better if it is shade or partial shade.
The soil is loose, nutritious loam with a lot of humus.
Boxwood cuttings are done as follows:
- Take pruning shears or sharp garden shears and cut off biennial shoots 25-30 cm long on an adult, healthy boxwood at an acute angle.
- Shorten them by a third, leaving two pairs of leaves on top.
- Plant on the prepared bed, deepening the cuttings to the very leaves.
- Cover the seedlings with 5-liter plastic bottles with a cut bottom.
- Don’t forget to unscrew the cap every day to ventilate and water by placing a spray bottle into the hole in the neck.
- In a month, the bush will begin to form roots, and at the end of the second month, the root system will form. Now the bottle can be removed.
- At the very end of autumn, before the onset of winter, cover the seedlings with fallen leaves and spruce branches to protect them from freezing.
If you live in a region with a cold climate, there is a danger that young plants will not survive frost.
Then simply dig up the rooted cuttings with a lump of earth and plant them in separate containers, which you place in a cool room with an air temperature of about +10 degrees for the winter.
In the spring, plant them in a permanent place.
By layering
Highly effective and proven method. In early spring, bend several stems of a boxwood bush to the ground and bury them.
Water and feed them all summer. As the roots form, the layers will begin to grow.
Then separate them from the mother plant and plant them in a permanent place.
How to grow boxwood in the garden
Caring for boxwood is actually not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.
Knowing the basics of care, adhering to certain rules and doing everything in a timely manner, you will quietly grow beautiful things, healthy plants, which will delight you for many years.
Fertilizer and fertilizing of evergreen buxus
Boxwood, despite its unpretentiousness, needs feeding from mid-spring to the end of summer, that is, during the active growing season.
Fertilizers for boxwood can be purchased at a gardening store; it is better if they are liquid; they are absorbed faster and in full.
Apply them once a week after watering or do foliar feeding on the foliage.
Keep in mind! The first feeding is done a month after spring planting seedling, this is due to the fact that everything useful material the plant can receive only after rooting and formation of the root system.
In spring and summer it can be either organic or complex mineral fertilizers.
By the way, the buxus itself is able to let you know that it lacks nitrogen: the foliage becomes reddish with a bronze tint.
In the fall, when you dig up the soil, add potassium or phosphorus fertilizer, since boxwood does not need nitrogen at this time of year.
Pruning: when to trim boxwood
To give the crown the correct and beautiful shape, the axle box needs to be trimmed in a timely manner. The first pruning of boxwood is performed in the second year of the bush’s life.
Usually this procedure begins in the spring - at the end of April - beginning of May, and ends in September, that is, boxwood is trimmed all summer, when it is actively growing. Often the shape of a trimmed bush resembles a cone or a ball.
Boxwood can be not only a bush, it makes an excellent standard tree.
How it's done:
- Remove all the shoots in the bush to the very surface of the ground, leaving only one - the strongest.
- Trim the young shoots growing on the central standard stem so as to form a ball shape.
Keep in mind that the formation of a bush is carried out only once; in the future, you will only need to adjust its shape by cutting off growing young shoots.
Boxwood takes pruning very well, especially if it is done regularly.
The most successful interval between haircuts is 1 month, when the plant has not yet lost its shape and can simply be trimmed without much effort.
From September to April, the buxus does not need pruning, since it is in a dormant state, the growth of shoots stops and, in principle, there is nothing to cut.
There is another reason why it is not advisable to trim boxwood in winter.
Important! Frequent haircuts required frequent watering and fertilizing to replenish the plant with nutrients that it received with the help of lost leaves.
And in winter, watering and fertilizing, as you know, are impossible.
Pruning a boxwood bush can be done with ordinary garden shears, especially if you are new to this business.
You can, of course, use a battery-powered hedge trimmer, but if you lack experience, you can ruin the shape of the bush by accidentally snatching off the excess.
To get the simplest shape, such as a rectangle, use special scissors with finely serrated blades.
Boxwood wood lends itself well to them and you can easily get rid of hard, lignified stems.
For cutting young stems, sheep shears are quite suitable; this method has long been used, for example, by the British.
If you need to trim a spherical figure, then you need to proceed like this:
- cut a narrow strip along the entire crown, imagining that the crown is the globe, and this strip is the equator. Then cut off 4 “meridians”. These strips should be as straight as possible;
- follow these stripes, straightening the branches from the top to the base.
A special metal template will help you solve your haircut problem - a semicircular wire attachment attached to a rod and easily rotated on it.
Insert the rod close to the trunk and, moving the nozzle along the crown, simply cut off everything that protrudes beyond its boundaries.
Pests, diseases and their control
Boxwood gall midge. In another way it is called a boxwood leafminer. At the very beginning of June, the female gall midge lays eggs, mainly on young leaves at the top of a young shoot.
The hatched larvae, having penetrated into the leaf tissue in the form of convex spots and swellings, remain there until next May and emerge from the pupae as adult insects.
If the plant is not treated, then all the foliage will dry out, fall off, and the bush will die. To prevent this from happening, carefully inspect the leaves.
At the first signs of the appearance of boxwood gall midge, treat the plant with a special preparation that can be purchased at garden store, for example, Fufanon, Bitoxibacellin, Karbofos-500.
Boxwood flea. If you notice that the foliage on the bush is bent, a sticky coating appears on it, and it takes on a whitish tint, you should know that the bush has been attacked by a flea.
The only way to get rid of it is to remove the affected foliage. Applying mineral oil as a spray may also help.
Fungal diseases. Young shoots are attacked, their tips dry out, the leaves become covered with spots and pinkish-orange dots - sporangia.
The spread of the fungus occurs very quickly; any delay in assistance will lead to the bush shedding its leaf cover.
Take it right away radical measures– immediately prune the affected branches, collect them and burn them.
To prevent fungus from appearing, periodically preventive treatment fungicides.
Spider mite. Attacks in dry times, when insufficient watering. Signs are a thin web entangling the branches of the plant.
Fufanon or Actellik will help.
Boxwood felt. Just like the gall midge, it penetrates into young shoots and leaves.
Method of control: remove the diseased parts, take them outside the site and be sure to burn them.
Boxwood moth. This pest is extremely voracious. In the belly of one caterpillar, a leaf completely disappears in 4 hours average size.
A loose web entangling the boxwood leaves will help you understand that it was the moth that attacked the bush.
Spraying with Fastak, Decis, Karbofos, Bi-58 helps very well.
Boxwood diseases will not bother you if you carry out timely pruning and preventive spraying with the necessary preparations.
Autumn preparations and wintering
Winter period– the most difficult time for buxus, since this southern plant does not have high frost resistance.
Therefore it is very important proper preparation shrubs for winter:
- At the end of October, before the onset of frost, carry out moisture-recharging watering so that the plant can receive enough moisture, which it so needs in winter.
- Be sure to mulch the soil in the tree trunk circle with peat or rotted pine needles. Fallen leaves are not suitable for this purpose, since overheating them can provoke an outbreak of fungal disease.
If a frosty winter is expected, then take care of shelter for boxwood bushes.
Tie young standard trees to a support so that there are abundant fragile stems.
Then carefully place a non-woven covering material and tie it around the trunks. For an adult trunk, it is enough to whitewash the trunk and cover only the crown.
Boxwood border and hedge cover with two layers of burlap and secure it well.
Wrap rooted cuttings and young bushes with spruce branches, after mulching the soil around the trunks.
When spring comes, the cover must be removed so that the bushes do not begin to rot.
Please note that this must be done in cloudy weather, leaving the bottom layer of covering material or part of the spruce branches.
This way you will gradually accustom the plant to sunlight.
As you can see, special works There is no problem in caring for boxwood. But by planting this amazingly decorative plant on your property, you will provide yourself with aesthetic pleasure and cause lasting envy among your neighbors.
We recommend you find out:Boxwood is one of the most ancient ornamental shrubs, which is used in landscape design for landscaping areas and creating hedges. This tree belongs to the category of evergreens, so even in winter it pleases its owner with an impeccable appearance.
Types of boxwood and their distinctive features
Boxwood has about 30 species plants, which grow in the Mediterranean and some regions of Asia. Each species has a set of unique features that distinguish it from other varieties: growth intensity, distribution area, color bark, shape and color of leaves. In gardening, in 95% of cases, evergreen or common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is found. As for growing tub plants, here the most suitable options are Chinese low-growing varieties.
- under natural conditions, distributed in the Mediterranean countries and the Caucasus. Feels good both in partial shade and in the sun. If not pruned, it can reach up to 3 meters in height.
Small-leaved boxwood – unlike its previous relative, this dwarf shrub is less sensitive to winter cold. It is a descendant of South Asian families and can withstand temperatures of 30 degrees without shelter. Valued for its compact shape and decorative crown.
Balearic boxwood - the largest species of the family, its leaves reach up to 5 cm in length. The Balearic Islands of Spain are considered to be their homeland. Distributed in the mountains of southern Spain, Portugal and the Crimean coast.
Landing
Planting boxwood does not require any special skills or knowledge in the field of gardening. Any time of the year is suitable for transplanting plants older than 3 years of age, from early spring to late autumn. Younger plants are best planted in the autumn season.
When choosing seedlings, try to buy only container options. Pay attention to the color of leaves and shoots, they should be green and lush. Yellow spots the leaves indicate that the plant will die soon.
Planting is best done on a cloudy day. In the prepared plot of land, holes are dug, slightly wider and deeper than the root ball. You can focus on the size of the container in which the plant was located. If several trees are planted to form a hedge or border, a wide and deep ditch is dug.
At the bottom of the trench, you need to pour a layer of compost 10-15 cm high and mix it with the soil using a fork. When preparing seedlings, make sure that the roots are straightened and do not stick out to the sides.
After the bush is covered with earth, a depression is formed around the trunk to accumulate water. The plant must be watered thoroughly.
Advice! To prevent the plant's roots from becoming dry, immerse them in water for about a day before planting.
Reproduction
In gardening, boxwood is propagated exclusively by cuttings, which are planted directly on the garden bed. The best time for planting is spring. You can also achieve good results in the fall, provided that boxwood trees are planted a month before the onset of cold weather. This is necessary in order to give the plants a chance to take root and prepare for winter.
The cuttings are planted in loose, humus-rich soil. On average, about 80% of plants take root successfully, but at first it is better to cover the trees with cans or film. With regular watering, rooting occurs in 25-30 days.
Advice! To grow in a very short period tall trees, choose cuttings with a length of 20 cm.
How to care for boxwood
Although the shrub is not too demanding to care for, there are still some subtleties, the observance of which will help you grow a beautiful hedge on your site.
- Temperature and humidity
Boxwood does not tolerate frost well. At a temperature of -20 degrees, the plant may die if the necessary measures are not taken to cover the trees. To do this, at the end of autumn, before the first snow appears, the bushes are wrapped in burlap or other material that can protect the bush from wind and direct sunlight in frosty weather. To protect trees from damage weather conditions, it is better to plant them in semi-shaded places and choose frost-resistant varieties.