Evergreen boxwood is an evergreen shrub, long-lived, of slow growth (unformed, however, it can grow up to over 2 m in height). Thanks to its nice, regular structure, this shrub is perfect for low-trimmed hedges and fringes. It can also be grown in containers. See what are the requirements of boxwood and what its cultivation, cutting and reproduction looks like. Meet the best varieties of boxwood for a hedge.
Evergreen boxwood - Buxus sempervirens
Fig. pixabay.com
Evergreen boxwoodbelongs to the boxwood family (Buxaceae). There are 30 species of boxwood known in the world. In their natural state, box trees are found in Europe, south-west. Africa, Central America and Asia. Boxwood leaves are ovate, small, shiny, leathery, dark green or yellow. There are also varieties with two-color leaves. The inconspicuous flowers located in the leaf axils appear on the boxwood from April to May. Boxwood fruits take the form of small horned bags with small black seeds.
Due to the content of harmful alkaloids, boxwood is a poisonous plant. However, this property is used in the pharmaceutical industry in the production of painkillers and antipyretics. Boxwood wood is very durable, thanks to which it is used min. for the production of musical instruments.
Boxwood - Hedge varieties
Evergreen boxwood varietiesSuffruticosa and Elegantissima are best suited for low formed hedges.Both are also perfect for growing in containers. Suffruticosa has long, shiny, light green leaves. It is a dwarf variety - it does not exceed 1 m in height, which makes it perfect for creating low hedges and borders. The Elegantissima variety is characterized by leaves with a white border, which look particularly attractive in spring. We can also use the Faulkner small-leaved boxwood variety for low formed hedges.
Requirements and cultivation of boxwood
Evergreen boxwoodgrows well both in a sunny position (but not directly exposed to the scorching rays of the sun) and slightly shaded. He likes quiet and damp positions, but not wet ones. The plant should be watered regularly, but not too abundantly, also in winter and in early spring, when the ground is thawing. The shrubs can grow on almost any soil, although they thrive best on compost-enriched and permeable clay soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH.In such ideal soil conditions, they can withstand periodic droughts as well as polluted city air.
Evergreen boxwood - Buxus sempervirens
Fig. depositphotos.com
Three times a year (at the turn of March and April, in June and at the end of July) it is worth adding fertilizer to the boxwood hedge. Compost with the addition of bone meal will be the best. If it seems too laborious to us, we can only feed the plants once in the spring, using slow-release fertilizer.
In very cold winters, boxwood can freeze, especially in the east of the country (frost resistance - zone 6B). Therefore, bushes that grow both in containers and in the ground should be covered with agrotextile for the winter. This protects them not only from frost, but also from drying winter winds that can damage their evergreen leaves.
Currentlythe most problems in the cultivation of boxwoodare caused by the boxwood moth pest.Caterpillars of this butterfly quickly strip the leaves of the boxwood bushes, causing them to die off. The basis for combating this pest is a pheromice trap for boxwood moth, which should be installed near the boxwood bushes. It catches adult butterflies and allows you to notice the presence of the pest before it damages the bushes.
Female boxwood moths lay their eggs on boxwood shootsThe eggs hatch voracious caterpillars, which first feed hidden inside the bushes (for this reason we often do not notice them early enough) and then eat the leaves on the outer shoots . Thereforeit is not enough to see the box trees from the outsideYou also have to open their twigs and check if there are no caterpillars inside. When we notice green caterpillars on boxwood, spray Lepinox Plus. Caterpillars stop feeding within 1 day after spraying, and die completely after 3 days. It is a biological agent that is safe for the environment and beneficial insects.
Boxwood - planting on a hedge
If we are just going to planta boxwood hedge , it is best to do it at the turn of August and September, although shrubs bought in containers can be planted without fear throughout the growing season.
For a 1 m long and 25-50 cm high hedge, about 15 plants are needed, and for a low, dense border, 20-25 cm high, about 30 plants. They are planted in two or three rows. The distance between the seedlings should be 15 to 30 cm.
Before planting, the substrate must be properly prepared. For this purpose, we thoroughly remove all weeds along with the roots. The soil should be loosened to a depth of one spade (about 20 cm). Then we dig a groove or holes into which we will plant shrubs. The shape of the future hedge or the border can be marked with a string stretched between the stakes. Immediately after planting, the bushes should be watered abundantly so that they will catch on more easily.
Cutting and shaping boxwood
Cutting boxwoodis an important procedure that allows you to properly form a hedge and stimulates the plant to grow. Young seedlings must not be trimmed immediately after planting. We only do it when they catch on. Cutting can be done in two terms - in early spring (in March) and in mid-summer. We shorten the fresh growths by about 1/3 of their length. Do not make the summer pruning later than in August, so that the stimulated shoots have time to lignify before the onset of winter frosts.
Propagation of boxwood
Boxwood reproduces by shoot cuttings. Cut the unlignified fragments of 10 cm long shoots in August. We root them in boxes with a slightly acidic sand and peat mixture and store them over the winter in an inspection room or in a cool, bright cellar. When spring comes, in April or May, the rooted young plants can be transplanted into the ground.
