Boxwood - the rules for breeding and caring for an evergreen tree. Boxwood is a unique evergreen for your garden Buxus boxwood evergreen in the office

The first descriptions of the evergreen boxwood were preserved in ancient treatises of the 6th century. Since ancient times, people have used this plant in landscaping areas, and thanks to the excellent tolerance of haircuts, these bushes remain the target objects of topiary art to this day.

What bizarre green figures you will not find in boxwood gardens around the world! The cultivation of boxwoods is also widely practiced in Russian gardens.

boxwood, or buxus, is an evergreen compact growing ornamental shrub. All boxwoods are characterized by slow growth (annual growth up to 15-20 cm) and unusually dense wood.

In total, the genus Boxwood unites about 70 species of shrubs or low trees - from 2 to 12 m, with a very peculiar appearance. Wild boxwood sometimes reaches 15 m, but the height of cultivated species rarely exceeds 3-6 m.

You will learn about what types of boxwood are, and how to grow these shrubs in the gardens of the middle lane, by reading this material.

What boxwoods of different types look like: photo, names, description

Various types of boxwood are distributed on all continents except Antarctica. The largest distribution area is Eurasia, from the British Isles to Northern China, Japan and Indonesia, about 25 species of boxwoods live.

Comparatively winter-hardy species of this genus are only the northern representatives of the Eurasian group.

Common boxwood, or evergreen, - the most famous European species and the only one that is common in culture on the territory of Russia.

It grows over a wide area from the northern Mediterranean coast to southeastern England and southern Germany.

There are numerous garden forms of evergreen boxwood, which differ in the size of the leaves and the form of growth of adult plants: from squat dwarfs to tall vertical bushes.

See what an ordinary boxwood looks like in these photos:

There are also variegated forms. Sufficiently resistant to the cold of Central Europe, these species practically do not withstand the climate of central Russia. Only spherical and variegated forms survive here.

Caucasian boxwood- the most small-leaved and most winter-hardy among European boxwoods. Under natural conditions, it grows in the mountain gorges of western Transcaucasia and in northern Turkey along the eastern and southeastern coasts of the Black Sea.

In the middle of winter, in the natural habitats of the plant, a stable snow cover often holds, and the temperature drops to -5 ... -10 ° С.

Boxwood Caucasian, or Colchis, can endure Moscow frosts under snow without shelter, although severe snowless winters significantly damage its crown. In any case, Caucasian boxwood can grow in the conditions of central Russia only in the form of a bush, without becoming a tree.

Hyrcanian boxwood grows along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, it is similar to evergreen boxwood in the size of leaves, but its growth form is different. This boxwood looks like a low shrub that never takes on a tree shape in nature. In terms of winter hardiness, it is significantly inferior to evergreen boxwood.

These photos clearly illustrate the descriptions of boxwoods of various types:

Common boxwood is easy to distinguish by leathery glossy leaves. Most of its varieties have hard, small, entire leaves 1.5-5 cm long and up to 2.5 cm wide.

As you can see in the photo, in this type of evergreen boxwood, the leaves are oppositely located on thin dense branches:

The oval shape is varied in width - from round to lanceolate. In summer, the leaves are dark green above and almost yellow below. In winter, they may turn brownish in color, but in the spring they will turn green again.

The flowers are small, inconspicuous, woody, in axillary inflorescences, yellowish-green. Same-sex and monoecious, they are located on the same shoot. Fragrant, but emit a pungent odor, even when the plants are at rest.

They send this warning for a reason - in most species of boxwood, all parts are quite poisonous, especially the leaves. When describing this plant, it is worth warning that boxwood leaves, getting inside the human body, cause severe poisoning.

The fruits of boxwood are hardly noticeable - they are small (0.5-1.5 cm long) boxes with three nests, in which there are small black shiny seeds.

Boxwood can be grown in standard form by choosing plants with a good center shoot. Side shoots are cut to the desired level and the rest are shortened. The plant will begin to branch well and turn into a beautiful ball on a leg.

Here you can see photos of boxwoods of different types, the names of which are given above:

How to grow boxwood in the garden

All boxwoods in their natural habitats show themselves as very unpretentious plants. They are able to settle on practically bare stones, on the edges and in thickets of deciduous shrubs, as well as in dense deciduous forests.

Boxwoods are one of the most shade-tolerant shrubs in South European and Caucasian forests. They have little need for water and light, but as subtropical plants they have fairly high heat requirements.

In order to grow boxwoods in the way that the right technology suggests, in the conditions of central Russia, where it is cool in the shade, they must be planted in sufficiently lit places, protected from the wind.

At the same time, boxwood in the middle lane needs some shading from the bright spring rays of the sun. You should not plant it near a south-facing wall, here the green leaves of the plant are quickly damaged. Optimal growing conditions for boxwood can be achieved in areas with bright diffused light, but without direct midday sunlight.

When planting and caring for boxwood, keep in mind that this is an evergreen plant, so harsh winters can harm it even not so much with frost as with the evaporation of moisture from the leaves. Due to the freezing of the soil, the roots of the plant cannot make up for the lack of moisture, and the foliage begins to dry.

Boxwoods are unpretentious to the fertility and acidity of the soil, but they need good water permeability - they do not tolerate stagnant water. To provide decent conditions for growing boxwood in the garden, ensure the presence of drained soil; structured clay soil containing lime is also quite suitable for it.

Under natural conditions, boxwoods live on slightly acidic soils of mountain slopes and deciduous forests. Often the layer of soil in the places where they grow is so thin that it barely covers the stones, so the roots of plants are usually fixed simply in the cracks of the stones.

When caring for boxwood, plants need to be cut regularly - this is a classic shrub for organizing green building. In Western European regular gardens, boxwood is usually assigned the main role in very dense hedges and decorating parks with all kinds of green figures of geometric or fantasy shapes.

Shearing boxwood can be given an ovoid, cone-shaped or pyramidal shape. Such landings will decorate paths, lawns or a front garden.

These photos show the main agricultural practices for planting and caring for boxwood:

Weak forms of boxwood are used to frame paths, ridges and flower beds. Growing tall varieties of boxwood is advisable for the formation and backstage, against which roses and beautifully flowering herbaceous perennials grow.

The green leaves of boxwood go well with flowers of various shades. A boxwood border is appropriate in rural-type gardens, where flowers and vegetables are grown in the same flower bed. Such a border will give the plantings finished shapes.

Evergreen boxwood and tall Caucasian boxwood are more suitable for creating hedges and high backstage in southern Russia. In the middle lane, evergreen boxwood is used to make all kinds of borders and low dividing fences inside the site. The height of such hedges is determined by the height of the snow cover.

Boxwoods are propagated by seeds and cuttings. Sufficiently large seeds, equal in size to the seeds of apple trees, and sometimes more, ripen in late autumn and early winter. When sown in spring, they need low-temperature stratification; when sown in winter, they germinate well even in the middle region.

But the problem is that seeds can only be obtained from plants that live in the south. In mid-latitudes, boxwoods do not bloom every year and practically do not set fruit. In addition, plants grown from seeds develop very slowly during the first few years.

Here you can see photos of the correct planting of boxwood and plant care:

For this reason, these plants are propagated by cuttings. Boxwood cuttings for spring propagation and care are recommended to be taken before the active growth of shoots, in late April or early May, from well-developed plants.

On a cutting 15-20 cm long with 2-3 internodes, almost all of last year's growth is cut off with part of the shoot of the year before last. Larger cuttings root poorly, and too small ones grow slowly.

In order to quickly get large plants, choose cuttings with a length of at least 20-30 cm, taken from the mother plant in July or August. At the fracture site, a thin strip of bark is removed with a sharp knife. For growing boxwood, prepared cuttings are placed in a sandy substrate and grown in a greenhouse.

All shoots on the handle are cut off by about a third. Boxwood cuttings, even with good care during cultivation, take root and grow rather slowly but surely. When using root stimulants, they give roots even before the expiration of a month after they are planted.

Pay attention to the photo - with good care for boxwoods, by autumn their root system will already be well formed, individual roots can reach 20 cm in length:

In warm weather, the cuttings are planted in loose, humus-rich clay soil in a semi-shaded sheltered place. Previously, the site is lined with a black film to suppress the growth of weeds and prevent the soil from drying out.

Summer cuttings are also successful, although the roots of summer seedlings mature weaker. They can die if the winter is frosty and with little snow.

For the same reason, seedlings obtained by cuttings, even with a well-developed root system, are not recommended to be transplanted from a greenhouse in the same autumn. It is better to postpone this work until next spring.

Boxwood is also propagated by layering, for which one shoot is bent to the ground, fixed with a wooden pin and sprinkled with soil.

A good result in planting and quality care is given by container seedlings of evergreen boxwood - bushy, with green shoots and leaves. Do not purchase planting material with yellow leaves or bare shoots.

How to properly care for boxwood in the garden

For successful care of evergreen boxwoods in central Russia, you should choose the right landing site, well protected from the prevailing wind in winter. Boxwood suits an open sunny place or partial shade.

In cold summers, boxwood shoots in dense shade do not have time to mature and may freeze in winter. However, they are also harmed by the withering midday sun in summer. The optimal place for boxwoods is where the sun illuminates them in the morning and evening, and in the afternoon there is a shadow.

And further care for boxwood with a closed root system can be done in a hedge from spring to autumn. However, the best time for planting is spring. 2-3-year-old seedlings are planted from April to mid-May. For planting, it is recommended to choose cloudy days.

The area allotted for planting boxwood is preliminarily dug up, and fertilizers are applied. Unpretentious to soil fertility, boxwood still grows better on fertilized land, here it gives a good increase. On poor soils, the plant produces leafy short shoots suitable for shearing.

For planting and further caring for boxwood shrubs, they dig a trench or planting hole 2 times deeper and wider than the root ball of a plant with a closed root system.

The bottom of the planting pit is covered with a 10-15 cm layer of compost, mixed with the ground with a pitchfork. To fill the trench, a fertile mixture of peat, soddy soil and sand is used in a ratio of 2: 2: 1.

The valuable qualities of boxwood led to the fact that the once vast forests were practically cut down. Now only small islands are left of them, but almost no large boxwood trees have been preserved.

The seedlings extracted from the containers are carefully lowered into the trench, trying not to destroy the earthen ball around the roots. The roots entangled on the surface of the root ball are carefully straightened with a sharp knife. Before planting boxwood seedlings with an open root system, the roots are placed in water at room temperature for a day.

Bushes are planted in a trench at a distance of 30-40 cm from one another, maintaining the same depth at which they grew in containers. Seedlings are sprinkled with soil, carefully compacted and watered well.

Adult bushes can be transplanted if necessary in the summer, they do not stop growing if they are provided with proper care and constant watering. Autumn planting of adult plants can be carried out a month before the onset of permanent frost - from September to the end of the second decade of October.

Care activities for boxwood plantings vary depending on the season. In winter, too large snow caps are shaken off boxwood bushes so that the shoots do not break under their weight. If dry and frost-free weather sets in in winter, then the boxwood is watered so that the evergreen foliage does not dry out.

The most difficult period in caring for a plant is the change from cloudy days to bright sunny ones. The above-ground part of the plants wakes up with the first rays of the sun, and the root system is at rest.

Because of this, the leaves and lignified shoots receive less moisture and begin to dry out. Plants that are in the shade, properly covered and under the snow cover almost do not suffer.

In order to care for boxwoods in the garden in the way that proper agricultural technology suggests, adult plants are fed in spring with a complete organomineral fertilizer containing potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

In summer, the bushes are cut regularly to keep the plants in good shape. In dry times, boxwood is watered, although mature plants are relatively drought-resistant.

In summer, watering of plants is carried out abundantly, in winter - relatively scarce. The soil under the bushes should dry out slightly, but not dry out completely. Excessive watering is also useless, the plant cannot stand stagnant water, so it will suffer from this.

Often, due to a violation of the timing of watering or too dry and hot air, yellowing, twisting, falling off or drying out of the leaves of the plant occurs. Therefore, in hot weather, boxwood is periodically sprayed with water. Feeding continues all summer, the last time it is given in August.

Boxwood is cut every 6 weeks from May to August, giving the bushes a variety of shapes. In central Russia, the optimal shape of a boxwood bush is a cone.

In autumn, before frosts, abundant watering is carried out to provide the shrub with moisture for the winter. The surface of the soil is mulched with peat or coniferous needles. Dry leaves cannot be used for mulching; in wet winters, the foliage causes the plants to warm up and the development of fungal diseases.

Then, with the onset of persistent frosts down to -10 ° C, protective shading of plantings begins. To cover spherical shapes, plastic or wooden boxes with holes are used.

Stamp trees, previously tied to supports, are completely tied with spruce branches or covering material. If lignified stems are whitened like fruit trees, then they can not be covered.

Low hedges and borders are covered with several layers of burlap or covering material, fixing them well.

Boxwood bushes do not suffer from frost at all in relatively mild winters, however, it is still desirable to cover the plants, since the greatest danger to them is severe (up to -20 ° C) frosts at the end of winter, as well as the alternation of frosts and thaws in early spring and winter withering winds .

It is impossible to cover boxwood with non-woven material, since under it the temperature drops in early spring are greater than without shelter. You should not rush to cover the boxwood, it is optimal to carry it out after a steady cold snap and the appearance of snow cover.

In the spring, the shelter is removed while the snow is still lying, before the buds begin to open, otherwise the plant will swell. Usually it is removed no later than the beginning of April. The snow that has not yet come down is loosened or removed from the plants. The shelter is removed in cloudy weather, leaving a little spruce branch or a layer of covering material on the bushes, after a week they are completely freed from the shelter.

When caring for boxwood, shrubs affected by psyllid are sprayed with a paraffin-based preparation.

Among the most beautiful and noble plants that adorn our world, boxwood is distinguished, it is also called buxus. Not everyone knows how to grow evergreen boxwood, and when acquiring young shrubs in the hope that beautiful ornamental plants will grow, many make a number of mistakes when planting and further care. This type of shrub has certain requirements and rules for the care and cultivation.

Among the most beautiful and noble plants that adorn our world, boxwood is distinguished, it is also called buxus.

This shrub is attractive to most people with its lush and dense crown, graceful trunk and medium-sized waxy leaves. Its peculiarity is that its crown can be cut, giving these plants the most incredible shapes. These shrubs are popular all over the world, they decorate parks, with their help they create living alleys and hedges, extraordinary borders and backstage, they are used to design lawn parterres. In nature, there are also wild representatives of this type of evergreen shrubs, they are found in Asia, Japan, America and Europe.

Such trees can reach a height of up to 15-17 m, they are larger and heavier, unlike their decorative relatives. For example, buxus wood is so dense and weighty that it does not even sink in water. But an ornamental shrub can have a small height and a more magnificent shape, it grows, as a rule, from 3 to 10 m high, and the crown in diameter can reach 1.5-3 m.

There are already a lot of decorative species today, they all differ in color, structure of the crown and trunks, as well as the shape of the foliage. In addition, each species has its own characteristics in cultivation. They are united by one genetics and a common belonging to 1 plant species. All of them belong to the class of heat-loving, but at the same time they tolerate frost very well. If you properly care for and comply with all the requirements in cultivation, then the boxwood will be able to delight with its beauty and decorate the backyard territory for many years. Although it grows rather slowly, but when it gains growth and splendor of the crown, it will be possible to create an interesting and unusual shape.

Gallery: Buxus evergreen (25 photos)

Boxwood evergreen spherical (video)

Small-leaved boxwood

The most popular among this type of plant is the small-leaved evergreen boxwood.

This species can grow in the form of a tree or shrub, reaching a height of 10-15 m. In the territory of the former CIS, it is also called the Caucasian palm tree. Its branches are straight, as if stretched, slightly sticking out in different directions, they are densely covered with foliage. The leaves are of a rather unusual color, the upper part of the leaf has a waxy sheen and rich green color, but its lower part can have several shades: from light green to yellow. Each leaf is planted on a short petiole, as if it is adjacent to the branch. The flowers of the small-leaved boxwood are rather small, collected in 1 inflorescence. The fruits form a spherical box, which opens from the moment the seeds ripen.

It is important to know that the leaves of this shrub are quite poisonous, so buxus is used exclusively in landscape design.

This type of boxwood is grown in almost every corner of the world; it is this variety that easily tolerates cold and is unpretentious in care. There is a variety that can be found even in Siberia. The shrub propagates in a vegetative way, i.e. you can grow it yourself by cuttings, but most people prefer to purchase ready-made seedlings in special stores. Gardeners are frightened by the long process of growing cuttings, as this is a rather troublesome task that requires certain knowledge. In fact, propagating boxwood with cuttings at home is quite simple and easy.

Landing Rules

The most suitable time for planting boxwood is from March to November. Although it is already quite cool in the autumn months, the seedlings are nevertheless accepted and tolerate the winter well. Of course, the most likely that the plants will get stronger by winter will be if they are planted in open ground in spring or summer. During this period, they will be able to thoroughly take root and take root to the ground. Summer plantings require more care: this is abundant watering, and protection from pests, and top dressing - but the result will be a healthy tree.

The age of the seedling is of great importance for the choice of planting time. For example, nurseries offer to purchase already quite mature plants that have reached the age of 3 years. Such planting material is guaranteed to be accepted and will not stop growing if the planting rules were followed correctly.

Gardeners quite often practice such a thing as digging in: for example, if a seedling was purchased in late autumn and there are no conditions for planting, then they simply dig it in with light soil and cover it. This is the best wintering method for a seedling.

So, the rules for planting evergreen boxwood:

1. The choice of landing site plays an important role. You should not plant a tree or a bush in a hollow, as its root system does not tolerate excess moisture, and even more so stagnant water. An open area with constant sunlight is best suited, some shade is allowed. For young and fragile cuttings, it is better to choose a site where there will be partial shade, since the scorching sun can simply set fire to a young sprout.
2. Buksus endures planting quite easily, it has no special requirements for the soil, but it is preferable, of course, if it is fertile and enriched land. Many gardeners prepare the soil on their own, for this they mix hardwood or soddy soil, compost, humus, peat or humus. If a curb is planted, then it is worth digging a long trench, and if the landing is single, then they dig a hole about 30-35 cm deep. In general, it is worth focusing on the size of the seedling's earthen coma. If enriched earth is added to the hole, then this should also be taken into account and the depth should be made 10 cm more. The soil must be well moistened.
3. Before planting a seedling with an earthy clod, it is necessary to free and straighten the roots, for this, the outer shoots are freed from the ground for further rooting in the new soil. If this is not done, then the root system will put new roots inside the earthy coma, i.e. deepen, and this does not have a very good effect on adaptation. It is worth remembering that when planting a plant, you need to take care of watering, and for this you need to create a recess around the sprout, which will allow you to quickly water the root system. Some experts recommend placing the roots of the seedling in water for 1 day.
4. Planting material is placed in the center of the prepared hole and carefully sprinkled with soil, each layer should be lightly tamped. During planting, you need to pay attention to the mark that remained on the trunk from the previous soil, you need to plant 2 cm above this mark, no more.
5. Watering should be done immediately after planting. It is also necessary to immediately perform mulching, for this, the bark of coniferous plants is finely crushed or agrofiber. Experts warn that the use of coniferous sawdust and oak bark will eventually lead to acidification of the soil.
6. After about 3-4 weeks, young seedlings will have finished the rooting process. By this time they will need to be cut. It is necessary to make a haircut, this will create a denser and more lush crown in the future. Branches should be cut evenly on all sides.

In the future, the plant is looked after in the usual way. The main thing is to carry out regular watering and fertilizing.

Features of boxwood (video)

shrub care

Planting and care is perhaps the most important thing in growing this crop. How to care for boxwood correctly?

In the summer, it is watered more often and more, focusing on the condition of the soil and weather conditions. The soil should dry out sufficiently between waterings, but you should not allow it to completely dry out and the appearance of earth crusts or cracks on the surface of the earth. It is better to water the bushes in the morning. It is worth considering that some varieties of this species, namely dwarf ones, such as fine-grained boxwood, can grow in flowerpots or tubs. Such mini-bushes need to be watered daily.

From time to time it is worth cleaning the foliage of dust and other contaminants, for this the plant is given a shower, it will not only clean the foliage, but also nourish the crown with moisture.

Boxwood is considered a frost-resistant crop, but temperatures below -20ºС can kill the plant. Therefore, it is worth preparing it properly for the winter. To shelter shrubs or trees, it is best to use burlap, it will help protect from sunlight during frosty weather and protect from wind. It is forbidden to wrap this type of polyethylene, as it will create a greenhouse effect and will contribute to the accumulation of moisture.

It is necessary to fertilize the culture regularly, it is worth choosing drugs for this wisely. The first top dressing is carried out from the moment of rooting, for this, complex preparations are used that contain potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. In the autumn, fertilizer is applied without nitrogen, but with a high content of phosphate. Gardeners are advised to use dry fertilizers, which are scattered neatly around the trunk, after which watering is carried out. Highly concentrated solutions can bring not so much benefit as harm to the root system of the shrub.

Pruning boxwood is one of the main items in the care. The first pruning of the branches is done after the seedling is fully rooted. It is worth doing a haircut once a month, this is done from May to August, since during this period the tree is in active growth. You need to cut the branches with a special tool with a long and sharp sheath, with their help, any geometric shape is attached to the crown. As the shrub grows, protruding leaves and twigs that break the given shape must be removed. Remember that during the pruning period, the plant especially needs watering and additional fertilizer.

Reproduction boxwood

There is only 1 way to propagate buxus - cuttings. A young shoot is prepared in the spring, for this, young shoots on the main trunk are chosen, the shoots must have a stiff structure at the junction with the mother trunk. The length of the cutting should be about 15-20 cm. You can cut the cuttings in early spring, but experts recommend doing this in June and July, however, in this case, the planting material is planted in the ground in the fall and, accordingly, the rooting time is significantly reduced, as the cold sets in . According to statistics, about 70% of planting material takes root. It is better to cover the stalk planted in open ground with a glass jar at first, but at the same time do not forget to ventilate so that excess moisture does not accumulate. It is quite a long time to grow boxwood in this way, since its growth is slow, and the first pruning will be carried out no earlier than in 2 years.

There is also a second cutting option. Pruning can be done at the end of summer, namely in August. Cuttings are cut about 7-8 cm long, each should have 2 internodes, and the base should be stiff. Next, cuttings are planted in containers or special pots, their volume should be small for better rooting. Thus, young shoots hibernate, and in the spring they are safely planted in open ground.

Buxus diseases

Caring for boxwood also involves the implementation of preventive measures in order to protect against possible pests. Like any other plant, it is subject to a number of diseases.

Most often, such trees and bushes suffer from the fungus Volutella buxi. It leads to drying and death of new young shoots. Damaged branches must be cut off, and the plant itself must be treated with fungicides.

Insects such as spider mites and box midge are also quite often harmful. The active breeding season of these pests occurs in the summer. It is necessary to carry out preventive treatment and hygienic cleaning of foliage, the optimal period for this is May - June. It is better to buy drugs in special stores.

Other possible boxwood diseases arise, as a rule, due to violations of the rules in care. Incorrect and untimely pruning of branches can lead to yellowing and falling leaves. Bust in watering entails the greatest number of diseases, most often the root system suffers from this.

In general, growing this evergreen plant is not a laborious process if you know the subtleties and basic requirements for caring for it. If everything is done correctly, then in the garden or on the plot you can create any style of landscape that will delight for many years with its beauty and originality.

Attention, only TODAY!

According to many gardeners, it is better to plant two or three evergreens in the garden than one deciduous, even if it is flowering.

The main argument is that they decorate the site all year round, and not just in summer. Perhaps the most popular evergreen plant is 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 not be equal in the number of years lived - its life expectancy reaches six centuries.

Such longevity is one of the reasons for its incredible popularity in landscaping not only private 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, amazing figures are perfectly formed from this plant that adorn any landscape.

The genus Boxwood has about a hundred species of plants found in Africa, northern Mexico, and Cuba.

The largest natural areas of boxwood can be called the southern part of Europe, the foothills of the Caucasus, China and Japan.

On the territory of Russia, wild boxwood is found in the Krasnodar Territory, in the Adyghe Republic, in the Caucasian 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 the climatic conditions of the 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 has the appearance of a tree, sometimes grown as a shrub. Small sheared figures and balls are well formed from it.

A characteristic feature is the direction of growth of hard shoots exactly vertically.

This species is taken as the basis for breeding such popular varieties as Suffruticose, Elegance, Blauer Heinz.

Low temperatures are not well tolerated, except for Blauer Heinz. This variety has an 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 undersized shrub (many gardeners call it dwarf) is quite compact and neat even without a haircut.

In winter, the color of the foliage becomes bronze. The most popular were Winter Jam and Faulkner (Buxus microphylla Faulkner).

Colchis 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 central Russia.

A characteristic feature of this species is large leaves and fast growth.

But the low temperature is 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 both on the plot and on the windowsill in the apartment.

In the southern regions, where the climate is milder and warmer, they decorate garden paths, while calling it curb boxwood, and make hedges out of it.

Since boxwood bushes are easy to trim, the garden or lawn decorated with them looks very impressive.

This plant is perfect for bonsai lovers - that's where you can unleash your creativity!

Small leafy plates of 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 choosing a place, because it has been growing on it for five or six centuries. Scary to think!

Remember! Boxwood is poisonous. Consider this when choosing a landing site, it should be away from the playground and children's room. Watch 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 moderately moist soil where groundwater is not close to the surface.

The best soil for boxwood is 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 matter. It is necessary to take into account all the preferences and claims of the plant, as it will be in the same place for several centuries.

Important! The boxwood tree is negatively affected by direct sunlight, therefore the best place for boxwood is partial shade.

The direct rays of the merciless, hot sun cause burns on boxwood leaves, they lose their luster and brightness of color. Nevertheless, the buxus endures the summer heat calmly.

He feels good under the crown of some tree, absolutely not paying attention to its powerful roots.

It is clear that boxwood, which was planted for a hedge, cannot be protected from exposure to direct sun, but in this case regular trimming of boxwood will help maintain decorativeness.

Boxwood trees and shrubs, being evergreen, continue to grow in winter. But just like in summer, sunlight is harmful to them.

Clear frosty weather can harm boxwood planted in the open. It's all about evaporation, from which the foliage dries up.

And in conditions of frozen soil, the root system does not make up for water losses, dehydration sets in, and the plant dies.

When to plant

Experienced gardeners consider the best time to plant boxwood, autumn, September-early October, it all depends on the region of residence.

Take into account that the seedling needs time (about a month) to take root well, otherwise it simply will not survive the winter.

It is quite possible to plant buxus in open ground in spring and summer, but then growing boxwood will require more care and attention: protect it from the sun, water it in time, etc.

Correct fit

To get a strong, healthy plant and not make great efforts to care for it, choose the right planting material - it must be of high quality, without visible damage.

First of all, inspect the foliage - a dark green color, glossiness and elasticity speak of its health. It should feel thick and leathery to the touch. Another sign of the quality of a seedling is its good branching.

A day before planting, place the pots with bushes in larger containers and fill them with water.

What is it for? Firstly, moisture will saturate the roots of plants, which will help better survival, and secondly, you can easily remove boxwood seedlings from pots without damaging them.

Be sure to carefully straighten the roots to prevent them from interweaving in the future, thereby ensuring the high-quality formation of the root system.

How to plant:

1. For each seedling, dig your own hole so that visually its volume is three times the volume of the rhizome.
2. Pour special drainage at the bottom, it is best if it is a layer of perlite mixed with excavated soil, 2-3 cm high.
3. Place a bush in the hole, spreading the roots evenly, and fill it with earth, trying to avoid the formation of voids.
4. Lightly tamp the soil in the near-stem circle and water. For watering a seedling about 20 cm high, 3 liters of well-settled or rain water are required.
5. Wait until the soil settles, add more earth, but do not tamp, but make an earthen roller that will prevent spillage of liquid during irrigation.
6. Fill the trunk circle with perlite (1-2 cm in height).

The next watering after planting should be in a week if it does not rain 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 to 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 earth dries.

Increase the intervals between waterings over time.

The best time to transplant boxwood

Boxwood transplantation is usually done in the spring, so that during the summer and autumn it takes root well and then successfully overwinter.

Advice! When transplanting adult plants, try to have a larger earth ball. This will prevent stress, and the shrub will easily take root in a new place.

Transplanting a plant, in principle, is no different from planting a seedling - the rules are the same.

Consistent implementation of them will lead to a good result.

Reproduction boxwood

Usually boxwood propagation occurs vegetatively, but sometimes the seed method is used.

In this case, it must be borne in mind that boxwood seeds remain viable for a rather short time, and this is a troublesome and very long process.

But if there is no other way to propagate boxwood, read the instructions below.

from seed

Seeds must be ripe and freshly harvested.

• dip them in warm water with a growth stimulator dissolved in it, keep the seed container in a warm place for a day;
• drain the water, and spread the seeds on half of a damp napkin, covering them with the second half, put the saucer with the napkin in heat, but not in the sun;
• make sure that the napkin is constantly wet, within a month the seeds should hatch;
• as soon as white sprouts appear, you can sow in a substrate prepared in advance: 1 part of peat + 1 part of sand. Place the seed so that the sprout is directed into the soil;
• stretch a transparent film on the container or put glass. The container should be in a semi-shaded, warm place;
• The seeds will sprout in 2-3 weeks. Remove the shelter, but leave the container in the same place, do not expose to the sun;
• Water and feed your seedlings regularly using regular houseplant fertilizer, but dilute them with twice as much water.

Plant in open ground when the plants reach a height of 12-14 cm.

cuttings

Propagation of 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 grow stronger before winter.

Prepare the site for planting cuttings:

• dig up;
• remove weeds;
• rinse well with warm water.

The bed should not be under the direct rays of the sun, it is better if it is a shade or partial shade.

The soil is loose nutritious loam, in which there is a lot of humus.

Boxwood cuttings are done like this:

1. Take a secateurs or sharp garden shears, on an adult, healthy boxwood, cut off biennial shoots 25-30 cm long at an acute angle.
2. Shorten them by a third, leaving two pairs of leaves on top.
3. Plant on the prepared bed, deepening the cuttings to the very leaves.
4. Cover the seedlings with 5 liter cut-bottom plastic bottles.
5. Do not forget to unscrew the lid daily for ventilation, water by lowering the spray bottle into the opening of the neck.
6. In a month, roots will begin to form at the bush, and at the end of the second month, a root system will form. Now the bottle can be removed.
7. 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 frosts.

Then just dig up the rooted cuttings with an earthy clod and plant them in separate containers, which are placed in a cool room with an air temperature of about +10 degrees for the winter.

In the spring, plant them in a permanent place.

layering

Highly efficient and proven method. In early spring, bend a few stems of the boxwood bush to the ground and dig them in.

Water and feed them throughout the summer. As roots form, layering will begin to grow.

Then separate them from the mother plant and plant 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 a beautiful, healthy plant that will delight you for many years.

Fertilizer and top dressing of Buxus evergreen

Boxwood, despite its unpretentiousness, needs top dressing from mid-spring to late 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 once a week after watering, or foliarly feed.

Keep in mind! The first top dressing is done a month after the spring planting of the seedling, this is due to the fact that the plant can receive all the useful substances only after rooting and the formation of the root system.

In spring and summer, it can be both organic and 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, apply potash or phosphorus fertilizer, since boxwood does not need nitrogen at this time of the year.

Pruning: when to cut boxwood

To give the crown a correct and beautiful shape, the buxus must be cut in a timely manner. The first pruning of boxwood is performed in the second year of the life of the bush.

Usually this procedure begins in the spring - in late April - early May, ends in September, that is, boxwood is sheared all summer, when it is actively growing. Often, in its shape, 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:

1. Remove all the shoots in the bush to the very surface of the earth, leaving only one - the strongest.
2. Cut young shoots growing on the central standard stem so that the shape of a ball is obtained.

Keep in mind that the formation of the bush is carried out only once, in the future it will only be necessary to make adjustments to its shape, cutting off the growing young shoots.

Boxwood treats 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 you can simply trim it without much effort.

From September to April, the buxus does not need pruning, as it is at rest, the growth of the shoots stops and, in principle, there is nothing to cut.

There is another reason why it is undesirable to cut boxwood in winter.

Important! Frequent shearing requires frequent watering and fertilizing to replenish the plant with the 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 in the absence of experience, you can ruin the shape of the bush by inadvertently cutting off the excess.

To get the simplest shape, such as a rectangle, use special scissors with finely serrated blades.

Boxwood lends itself well to them and you can easily get rid of hard lignified stems.

Shears for shearing rams are quite suitable for cutting young stems, for example, the British have been using this method for a long time.

If you need to cut a spherical figure, then you need to act 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 and 4 "meridians". These strips should be as straight as possible;
• follow these stripes, aligning the branches from the crown to the base.

A special metal template will help you solve the problem with a haircut - a semicircular wire nozzle attached to the rod and easily turning on it.

Stick the rod close to the trunk and, circling the nozzle along the crown, just cut off everything that protrudes beyond its borders.

Pests, diseases and their control

Boxwood gall midge. In another way, it is called a mining boxwood fly. 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 the next May and emerge from the pupae as adult insects.

If the plant is not treated, then all the foliage will dry up, fall off, and the bush will die. To prevent this from happening, carefully inspect the leaves.

At the first sign of the appearance of boxwood gall midge, treat the plant with a special preparation that can be purchased at a 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, it becomes whitish, know that a flea has attacked the bush.

The only way to get rid of it is to remove the affected foliage. Spraying with mineral oil can also help.

fungal diseases. Young shoots are attacked, their tips dry up, the leaves become covered with spots and pinkish-orange dots - sporangia.

The spread of the fungus occurs very quickly, any delay in assistance will result in the leaf being shed by the bush.

Immediately take drastic measures - immediately prune the affected branches, collect them and burn them.

To prevent the appearance of fungus, periodically carry out preventive treatment with fungicides.

spider mite. Attacks in dry times, with insufficient watering. Signs - a thin web that entangles the branches of a plant.

Fufanon or Aktellik will help.

Boxwood felt. Just like gall midge, it penetrates into young shoots and leaves.

Method of struggle: remove diseased parts, take them outside the site and be sure to burn.

boxwood moth. This pest is extremely voracious. In the womb of one caterpillar, a medium-sized leaf completely disappears in 4 hours.

To understand that it was the moth that attacked the bush will help the loose web that entangled the leaves of the boxwood.

Spraying with Fastak, Decis, Karbofos, Bi-58 helps very well.

Boxwood diseases will not bother you if you prun and preventively spray with the necessary preparations in a timely manner.

Autumn preparations and wintering

The winter period is the most difficult time for buxus, since this southern plant does not have high frost resistance.

Therefore, the correct preparation of the shrub for winter is very important:

1. At the end of October, before the onset of frost, carry out water-charging watering so that the plant can get enough moisture, which it needs so much in winter.
2. Be sure to mulch the soil in the trunk circle with peat or rotted needles. Fallen leaves are not suitable for this purpose, as overheating it can provoke an outbreak of a fungal disease.

If a frosty winter is expected, then take care of shelter for boxwood bushes.

Tie up young standard trees on a support so that abundant fragile stems.

Then carefully put on a non-woven covering material and tie around the trunks. For an adult stem, it is enough to whitewash the trunk and cover only the crown.

Cover the boxwood border and hedge with two layers of burlap and secure it well.

Tie rooted cuttings and young bushes with spruce branches, after mulching the soil around the trunks.

At the onset of spring, the shelter must be removed so that the bushes do not begin to scatter.

Please note that this should be done in cloudy weather, leaving the bottom layer of covering material or part of the spruce branches.

In this way, you will gradually accustom the plant to sunlight.

As you can see, there is no special work in caring for boxwood. But by planting this strikingly decorative plant on your site, you will provide yourself with aesthetic pleasure, and arouse persistent envy among your neighbors.

Boxwood (buxus, buxus, stone tree) has been known as an ornamental evergreen shrub for a very long time. This is one of the best plants for landscaping and creating hedges. It is plastic, easily tolerates a shaping haircut, and even in winter it can boast of its impeccable appearance.

Boxwood belongs to the genus evergreens. It has almost 100 different species. In the wild, the box grows in the Mediterranean, East Africa, Asia Minor, Central America, and the Caucasus.

Buxus is a shrub that in nature grows tall up to 15 meters, in culture, it often happens no higher than 6 meters. The dense crown of the bush is covered with shiny, leathery, fragrant oval-shaped leaves. The upper part of the leaves is colored dark green, the bottom leaves are yellow-green.

Buxus rarely blooms in our climate. Small, fragrant yellow-green flowers appear in March-April.

Types of boxwood

The most common species in our country are:

• evergreen or ordinary;
• small-leaved;
• Colchis or Caucasian;
• Balearic.

Evergreen boxwood is found in the southern regions of the country both as an ornamental and wild plant (in the Caucasus). cultivation possible in partial shade and in the sun.

Motherland small-leaved boxwood are Japan and Korea. Therefore, this species is more resistant to winter cold and even without shelter is able to withstand frosts down to minus 30 degrees. boxwood is listed in the Red Book. It is a long-liver and specimens are known that have lived to almost 600 years. It grows up to 20 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 30 cm.

Boxwood is the largest species. Its leaves are up to 4 cm long and 3 cm wide. Differs in fast growth, high decorative qualities. Wintering is possible only at positive temperatures.

Planting boxwood evergreen

Choose a landing site in advance: bright, but without direct sunlight.

Buxus grows on almost any type of soil, but soil ideal for planting:

• loamy;
• having a neutral acidity;
• well drained.

Particular attention should be paid to drainage. This shrub is just will not grow in an area where water stagnates. In this case, it is better to grow it in large flowerpots.

The best time for planting young seedlings in the Moscow or Leningrad region is autumn. It will take about a month to root the box. Therefore, the planting time must be calculated so that the seedling takes root before the onset of the first frost. Plants older than 3 years can be planted at any time of the year, except for winter.

When buying seedlings, carefully inspect them: foliage and shoots should be lush and green. Leaves with yellow spots indicate that the bush will die soon.

Landing is carried out after sunset or on a cloudy day. Dig a hole to size about three times the size of an earthen clod seedling. A trench is dug to plant a hedge. A layer of drainage is laid at the bottom. If the soil is poor, then fertile soil or compost can be added on top of the drainage.

Taking the plant out of the container gently straighten all the roots. The quality and timing of its rooting depend on this. To make the soil more loose, breathable, you can add perlite to the ground. Place the seedling in the hole, fill it with earth, lightly tamp and water.

Rules for care and cultivation

During the growing season, care is quite simple. The first feeding is carried out a month after planting. In the future, top dressing is repeated 1-2 times a month during the entire growing season. In the spring they bring in, rich in nitrogen, in summer and autumn - phosphorus - potassium.

When watering, they are guided by weather conditions. If there is no rain, then water once every 1 - 2 weeks.

Before the onset of cold weather, the buxus is watered abundantly, the soil around the trunk is mulched. Despite the fact that evergreen boxwood tolerates sub-zero temperatures quite well, long severe frosts can kill the plant. Small bushes are covered with boxes with ventilation holes. The hedge is covered with a specially designed non-woven material.

In the spring, do not delay cleaning the shelter in order to avoid the possible damping of the axle box or the development of fungal diseases.

To maintain the shape of boxwood new growth needs to be pruned. To get lush beautiful bushes, a haircut should be done every 4 weeks.

reproduction

Boxwood can be propagated:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• layering.

seeds

Buxus seeds are propagated rarely. This is due to the fact that its seeds quickly lose their germination.

In warm water dissolve the growth stimulant(Zircon or Epin) and fresh ripened seeds are soaked in this solution for a day. After that, they are laid out between wet wipes or cotton pads. Within 2-3 weeks, white sprouts hatch.

The seeds will be placed in a container filled with a mixture of peat and sand in equal proportions. In this case, the sprouts must be sent to the soil. Cover the container on top with a film or glass and put it in a warm place at home, shaded from direct sunlight.

After the appearance of green sprouts, the glass or film is removed. It can be planted in open ground in the spring after How will the frost threat pass?.

cuttings

The most common way to propagate bush is spring cuttings. From an adult plant cut at an angle young non-lignified shoots about 15 cm long.

Leaves are removed from the lower part of the cutting, the lower tip is dipped in and buried in a light, nutritious soil for a third of the length. Top with a plastic bottle.

Necessary ventilate daily plants. Water the cuttings by spraying them with water from a spray bottle. The first roots appear in about a month.

layering

For propagation by layering in the spring shoot bend to the ground and dig. During the summer period, the buried shoot is watered and fed along with the mother bush. After the shoots grow, they are separated and planted.

Diseases and pests

Most buxus diseases occur due to improper care behind it or due to damage to the plant by pests.

The most common diseases are:

• root rot;
• loss of foliage and shoots;
• late blight;
• white leaf spot;
• cytosporosis;
• drying of branches and leaves.

The most dangerous for this plant are the following pests:

• boxwood moth;
• gall midge;
• boxwood blotch;
• spider mite;
• sucker;
• boxwood felt;
• scab;
• worms.

Use in landscape design

Slow growth, plasticity, easy care, unpretentiousness, the presence of foliage in the winter - all these qualities inherent in buxus open up endless possibilities for landscape designers to use this plant.

Separately planted bushes with the help of a haircut are given a variety of shapes: from simple geometric to complex shapes. Low-growing and slow-growing species are used to frame flower beds and lawns, to create borders. From strong and high-growing varieties, a dense living fence is obtained that protects from noise, wind and prying eyes.

This shrub is also used to hide unsightly objects on the site: garbage cans, compost heaps. In flower beds, boxwood is often used as a backdrop for other flowering plants.

A dense hedge or beautiful green figures will decorate any site, you just need to spend a little effort on the simple care of this wonderful plant.

When choosing plants to decorate the site, many gardeners prefer permanently green perennials. Annuals, deciduous will serve as decor for a certain period, after which they will become inconspicuous. On the plot you can often find a beautiful evergreen boxwood. Due to the variety of varieties, the unpretentious shrub fits perfectly into any composition, successfully complements the most sophisticated design solutions.

Boxwood - description and features of the plant

The evergreen boxwood is also called Buxus sempervirens. A shrub or low tree in favorable growing conditions can live up to 600 years. The plant is characterized by slow development, therefore, in addition to soil street planting, it is often grown indoors. It makes an excellent bonsai in a pot.

Boxwood greens have a pleasant unusual smell. The leaves are dense, medium-sized in the shape of an ellipse, arranged oppositely. In most species, the crown is green, but there are also variegated plants. Blooms begin in March, April. First, yellow-green inflorescences with same-sex flowers appear in the axils of the leaves. They merge with a ball of boxwood foliage and exude a stunning aroma.

At the end of summer, inflorescences are replaced by fruits in the form of three-nested boxes. During the ripening period, they crack, scattering small black seeds around. Boxwood is a honey plant, but its honey is not used for food. All parts of the plant are poisonous, so it is carefully placed on the site, especially if there is an apiary nearby.

The main quality of boxwood, for which landscape designers highly appreciate it, is the ability to form a spectacular crown and create unimaginable compositions. It can be spherical green sculptures, hedges. Brilliant green leaves do not fade with a lack of sunlight, pruning of branches is easy and without consequences.

Main types and varieties

A favorite of gardeners has many varieties. Each variety is adapted to life in certain conditions, has its own characteristics. The type of plant is chosen for a specific purpose. To create green figures, miniature terrace decor, dwarf boxwoods with slow growth are suitable. Large, vigorous varieties are used for natural landscapes, hedges, borders. All decorative types are united by unpretentiousness, beauty of greenery, ease of formation of any crown.

Evergreen Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

The most common variety for the garden, imported from the Caucasus. The plant looks more like a branched tree with a dense lush crown than a shrub. Large dark green leaves strew the straight branches of the plant. Their underside is usually painted in a lighter shade. They rush upward, do not lean towards the ground. The length of the sheet is up to 3 cm. A simple evergreen boxwood tolerates slight frosts well if it is constantly under a snow cover.

The root system of the plant is pivotal, abundantly branching. The roots penetrate deep into the soil and spread several meters wide. From the pure form of boxwood, breeders have created many varieties represented by compact shrubs with a wide variety of leaf shapes and textures.

Small-leaved boxwood (Buxus microphylla)

A very resistant buxus variety that can winter at a fairly low temperature (up to -30 ° C). Homeland compact shrub - Japan, China. In height, a dwarf plant reaches no more than 1.5 meters. Slow growth allows you to form any figures from its crown, use it in planting with perennials with similar characteristics and features. Annual increase in volume - 5 cm.

Small-leaved boxwood grows neatly even without pruning. This quality is especially appreciated by landscape designers. The length of the small leaves of an adult plant is 2 cm, the width is 1.5 cm. The ornamental plant feels great in open ground and in containers. Often Chinese varieties are used to delimit the territory, spectacular design of flower beds and flower beds.

Colchis or Caucasian boxwood (Buxus colchica)

Due to the very slow renewal, the plant is listed in the Red Book. Great interest in it is shown because of the special structure of the wood. Colchis boxwood is found in nature in Georgia, Turkey, Asia. Even several decades after planting, its leaves remain in their original form, do not lose their decorative effect. Inflorescences appear along the entire length of the stem.

Crown pruning is carried out with extreme care. The green grows very slowly. It may take several years to build up a couple of centimeters of green mass. Caucasian boxwood is neatly trimmed in spring or summer, trying not to expose the upper branches too much.

The first flowering of the Caucasian boxwood occurs no earlier than 20 years after planting in the ground.

Balearic boxwood (Buxus balearica)

This variety has large leaves. They can reach a length of 5 cm. The homeland of the shrub is Spain, the Balearic Islands. Naturally grows in Portugal, Morocco, on the Crimean peninsula. Compared to other species, it grows rapidly, but only in warm regions, where the temperature during the cold season does not fall below 18 ° C.

Caring for the Balearic variety is simple, as with all boxwoods. It is used to create tall hedges and miniature bonsai. In room conditions, the shrub is more demanding on soil and watering.

Landing in open ground

Boxwood is absolutely undemanding to the soil, perfectly tolerates shade and summer heat. Even inexperienced gardeners will be able to adequately care for him. Plants freely tolerate the influence of adverse factors of large cities (large air pollution, smoke). Usually planting seedlings in the country in the ground is carried out in spring or autumn. Purchased material must be well prepared. The ideal option is to transfer the plant to the ground after moistening the root for 12 hours. If the shrub is bought in a container and is in the ground, then before taking out the soil must be well moistened and left for 24 hours. This will minimize the chance of damage to the roots.

What time to plant

The evergreen plant has a very early flowering. The first flowers begin to form in mid-March. To give the plant a chance to get stronger, the autumn planting of boxwood in the ground is mainly practiced. You can plant seedlings from September to the end of October. The main thing is to do this a month before the onset of frost. This time is enough for the full development of the root system in a new place. Thus, the shrub will acquire frost resistance, calmly endure the winter.

In regions with early cooling, boxwood is planted in the spring. If you plant it in the ground in the fall, it simply does not have time to take root and will die. Summer planting is possible, but subject to constant moistening and spraying, otherwise the buxus will stop the already slow growth.

How to plant: site selection and soil preparation

The decorativeness and development of boxwood are more dependent on proper planting. When transferring a plant to the ground, it is necessary to take into account the requirements for the soil of each type, options for neighborhood with other crops, and the level of lighting. A long-lived shrub can grow without transplanting for several centuries, so it is very important to choose the right permanent place and soil for it.

Heat-loving buxus does not tolerate direct sunlight. It is better to choose a site partially shaded, especially during the period when the sun will be at its zenith. Bright radiation can injure the leaves, which will negatively affect the decorativeness of the bush.

Boxwood grows well in the shade of high fences, walls of various buildings. The landing site should be chosen taking into account the need for maximum shade in winter. The bright sun at a negative air temperature is a great danger to the health of the plant.

Bushy crops are not demanding on the soil. They will be satisfied with the average saturation with nutrients. But in order to accelerate the development and growth of boxwood, some conditions should still be observed:

• Perennials do not tolerate stagnant moisture, which is inevitable in heavy soils. This option must be excluded. Preference should be given to loamy, sandy soil.
• Acidity should be weak or neutral. To minimize this indicator, when planting in the ground, mature compost and slaked lime are placed in each hole.
• Young boxwood will develop better and faster in well-drained soil. Breathability can be improved artificially with the help of perlite. Small gravel, broken bricks.
• The ground should not be excessively wet. It is necessary to exclude the option of landing on a site with a surface passage of groundwater.

Rules for caring for a plant in the open field

To get an excellent result when growing boxwood on your site, you must follow certain rules of care. None of the procedures will cause problems for the gardener. The plant needs increased attention only during the onset of cold weather - in autumn and winter. Basic care involves standard manipulations, not much different from maintaining the growth of other perennials.

Boxwood haircut - crown formation

Cut branches and leaves only in adult plants that have reached the age of two. This time is enough for the bush to take root and grow stronger. Early pruning is allowed in undersized varieties. The border of dwarf bushes can be trimmed within a couple of weeks after planting, but not more than 5 cm at a time.

You can start the first haircut with the onset of stable heat. A slight correction of excess growth will be enough so that the plant does not lose its shape. Shapeless, heavily neglected branches are cut to a stiff base. A month later, the procedure is repeated.

Spring pruning is best done as early as possible, before active growth begins. Start processing from the top of the boxwood, gradually moving down. Small branches are cut off by riding, large ones before the formation of buds, so that they cannot grow shoots inside the bush, and spoil the appearance of the crown. To form individual sections of the plant, a different tool is used:

• Secateurs. Used for thinning overgrown areas. The supporting and working blades are bent in an arc. With a special device, excess branches of hedges and borders are cut.
• Battery hedge trimmer. A light, simple object is used for linear trimming. With its help, the crown can only be given the appearance of a rectangle.
• Escape scissors. They remove soft branches that have not yet had time to stiffen. Also used to trim the contours of the figure.
• Cordless device for hard branches. The product consists of several pairs of scissors, which are powered by a powerful battery charge.
• Brush cutters with long handles. The elongated shape of the handles and short blades allow pruning inside the bush.

Watering and feeding

Any variety of boxwood loves water. Plants should be watered once a week with periodic spraying of the green crown. Additional surface moisture is especially necessary for young bushes.

The first watering is carried out immediately after planting. The subsequent procedure is carried out after 7 days, if heavy rainfall has not fallen during this time. For a seedling of 1 meter, 10 liters of water will be enough. So that the water does not spread, but falls exactly to the roots of the plant, its trunk is fenced with a ring of earthen embankment.

With a severe drought, increase the volume of water, and do not increase the frequency of approaches. The long roots of boxwood can easily reach the nutritious lower layers of the soil. Frequent watering will lead to soil diseases. It is better to moisten figures from bushes early in the morning or after sunset.

To ensure healthy and rapid growth of decorative buxus, it must be fertilized and fed. The first batch of nutrients is placed in the soil a month after planting. An already well-rooted seedling will grow and develop immunity to disease. In the future, fertilizers are applied 2-3 times per season. To build green mass, nitrogenous mixtures are used; before wintering, they are watered with a solution with the addition of phosphorus and potassium.

Moisture-loving boxwood does not tolerate liquid stagnation. In rainy weather, it does not need to be watered and sprayed. There will be enough natural soil moisture.

autumn care

The main amount of work to care for a relatively unpretentious shrub falls on autumn. The ability of the plant to endure the cold and quickly recover from wintering will depend on the quality of the measures taken.

It is necessary to care for a globular shrub in protective clothing, avoiding contact with poisonous juice on the skin. The main autumn procedures that will help to calmly winter the buxus:

1. Watering. Abundant hydration is necessary, which will saturate all the cells of the plant with moisture. Under adverse conditions (lack of snow and strong winds), this will help the plant survive.
2. Top dressing. Final feeding occurs no later than mid-September. If you fertilize the boxwood later, then instead of immersing itself in a state of dormancy, it will start up young shoots.
3. Pruning. Autumn haircut stimulates the growth of young shoots in spring. Dry, damaged branches are removed completely, the rest are made shorter by 2 cm.
4. Mulching. Provides optimal heat transfer in the root system. Mulch will save the bush from freezing in the harsh winter and flooding in the spring.
5. Protection from diseases, pests. Remove and burn affected branches and leaves. The trunk of tall bushes is whitened, the crown is treated with insecticides.

Preparing for the winter

Boxwood easily tolerates slight frosts, lowering the temperature to -10 ° C. A large amount of snow will protect the root system from freezing. To prevent the sudden awakening of the shoots, the plant is carefully covered. For tall bushes, a support is installed and a garter is made with a wire or rope. So the long branches of the buxus will not break off from the weight of the snow.

So that the covering material does not squeeze the plant, a special frame is made for it. Above the top of the bush, a wire is placed crosswise, the resulting lattice is covered with material, fixed at the bottom with any load.

It is better to choose a dark color for wrapping boxwood, since white can transmit light. The fabric should be strong, but light, so as not to put pressure on the plant. For shelter for the winter use the following options:

• Lapnik. Several thorny branches are tied around the plant in the form of a house. An air gap is created between the shrub and the needles, which makes it possible to create ideal wintering conditions and protect the branches from sunburn.
• Sackcloth. Wrap the shrub loosely, leaving air space. If you do not pay due attention to the density of the winding, rot and mold will quickly form under the damp base.
• Agrofibre. The non-woven fabric is highly breathable. Suitable as a shelter for mild winters. He can’t cope with frosts, but he protects well from the sun.

Transfer

Almost all types of boxwood are transplanted in the fall, except for large-leaved plants. For them, the best time for dividing is spring. Perennial well tolerates transplantation at any age. The bush is dug along the outer border of the compost, its upper part is tied up and pulled out with minimal damage.

The first step is to prepare the wells. They dig holes, 50 cm deep, 40 cm in diameter. Fill them up to half with a mixture of fertile soil with the addition of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, urea. Leave it like this for a few days.

In the new hole, the seedling is placed superficially. The root neck should rise above the ground by at least 3 cm. The plant is covered with soil, compacted and watered abundantly. In order for the boxwood to adapt faster in a new place, anti-aging pruning is carried out.

Reproduction methods

There are several ways to increase the number of shrubs on the site. The vegetative method is most often used, but if desired, seedlings can be grown from seeds. Smooth hedges are made by bending branches to the ground. Each type of reproduction has its own characteristics.

seeds

Like all ornamental crops, buxus blooms and bears fruit. Seeds ripen in boxes all summer, becoming suitable for planting only in autumn or early winter, when the air becomes quite cool.

In appearance, boxwood seeds resemble apple seeds. The large size makes it easy to select healthy specimens for breeding new seedlings. They have excellent resilience. Even if accidentally dropped into the soil, they easily germinate on their own. The disadvantages of seed propagation include a long period of seedling development. It will take at least 3 years to get a full-fledged plant.

cuttings

A more successful way to propagate boxwood. All cuttings involved are guaranteed to take root, subject to certain rules. For propagation, planting material collected in summer, autumn, young or already stiff shoots is used. Suitable annual, well-ripened cuttings 10-15 cm.

For cuttings, lateral, apical shoots are used. Cut off or pinch off part of the branch, remove the lower leaves and transfer to the ground. It can be a special container or open ground. It is important that the place is dark and windproof.

The selected plants are deepened into the ground by 3 cm, and watered abundantly. Water should pass into the soil for the length of the shoot, taking into account the formed roots. It will be possible to move boxwood to a permanent place at least in a year.

layering

The propagation scheme by layering does not differ from other crops. Long branches are tilted and added dropwise. Then they are fertilized and watered abundantly. When they form new roots, they can be dug up and planted. More often this method is used to create green borders and hedges.

If young layers are placed in a special trench in the spring, then in the fall they will already have their own roots. You can speed up the process with the help of chemicals to stimulate growth and simplify rooting.

Plant diseases and pests

The unpretentious boxwood is often attacked by pests. Despite the content of poison in its trunk and leaves, many insects do not mind eating its juice, which leads to disease and death of the shrub. Any change in the appearance of the shrub should be of concern to site owners. Most of the lesions noticed in time can be easily repaired. Buxus can suffer from the following diseases and pests:

1. Boxwood gall midge. The main sign of the appearance of such an insect is yellow convex spots on the sheets. Small larvae quickly spread throughout the crown. You can stop the reproduction of the pest by treating the plant with special preparations. For prevention, the shrub should be trimmed more often.
2. Boxwood flea. Insects lay their larvae on leaves and cover them with sticky secretions. Affected greens bend and fade. Control methods - removal of part of the diseased crown, treatment with mineral oils.
3. Spider mite. Envelops the kidneys with pubescent oblong formations, especially in dry weather. The damaged parts are cut off, the entire crown is sprayed with a special agent.
4. Boxwood fire. Small moth-like butterflies often lay their larvae on boxwood. Their caterpillars cover all the leaves, which leads to the rapid drying of the shrub. The process of wilting of the plant is accompanied by a characteristic odor. To combat the pest, the trunk, crown and ground around the shrub are treated with biological insecticides.
5. Fungal diseases. The appearance of diseases is evidenced by rust, sporangia on the leaves. The only way to deal with spots is to completely remove the affected shoots.

Features of caring for plants in tubs

In summer, potted plants require daily watering as the soil dries out very quickly. Starting from mid-spring, it is necessary to organize regular top dressing with liquid formulations, combined with soil moisture. If the leaves begin to turn red, nitrogen-containing fertilizers must be added to the tub.

With the onset of cold weather, a container with boxwood can be brought into a cool room or left in the most natural environment. If the shrub will overwinter on the street, it must be placed in a larger container, fill the empty space with crushed bark. This will help insulate the roots, retain moisture.

Examples and uses in landscape design

Boxwood has more than 100 varieties. Each variety has its own decorative features and all kinds of characteristics. Plants require certain growing conditions, can be used to create various elements of landscape design.

The average life expectancy of a shrub is 500 years, the annual growth of the crown is 15 cm. This allows the branches and foliage to keep the necessary shape for a long time without disturbing the edges of the figure. The high density of the crown allows you to get perfectly even edges after cutting. You can use the plant to decorate the site in several ways:

• Hedge. A simple element of decor is formed by the method of linear planting and simultaneous trimming of all bushes with the same comb.
• Geometric figures. For haircuts, special frames are used. With the help of an iron grid, a green sphere, a cube, a trapezoid, an ellipse are formed.

Conclusion

Growing an evergreen shrub on your site is within the power of even a novice gardener. Appropriate trimming of foliage at home will help to give it the necessary shape that will last a long time. In order for boxwood thickets to become a decoration of the site, you need to make a little effort.