Tips for Growing & Caring for Boxwoods

While I was in North Carolina a couple weeks ago, Emmett ditched his crutches for a shovel and I came home to a front lawn filled with new landscaping (a pretty big surprise). Obviously you already know, he tossed the doctor’s orders out the window as soon as I jetted off for my work trip, ha. In all seriousness, I’m glad he’s feeling well enough to work in the yard and the landscaping he planted looks incredible… it was definitely a fun welcome home project he crossed off our to-do list! After sharing some peeks of our fresh front yard, I received quite a few questions about the boxwoods he had planted. I thought it may be helpful to share our best tips for growing & caring for boxwoods. We’ve been planting and caring for boxwoods for over a decade- since the beginning of our homeownership journey. We planted them at our first home, then again at our second, and now we have a beautiful selection at our current home. We’ve landscaped in different zones & climates, and have found what works best to keep these plants thriving, growing, and looking beautiful. Click through for some quick tips…

Before I dive in… there were a couple key questions I wanted to answer first. Our current gardening zone ranges from 6-7, but boxwoods do best in zones 3-9 (especially thriving in zones 6-8)… making them ideal for multiple climates. The type of boxwoods we recently planted are called Winter Gems, but there are over 90 species of boxwoods, so it’s definitely worth chatting with your local gardening or landscaping center for recommendations on what works best for your location. Winter Gems can handle lots of sun and are also tolerant to the amount of snowfall we receive (they’re hardy), which is why we landed on that particular species, given our extreme climate. We have some potted ones that have done really well for us these past few years…

When I think of boxwoods, I think of traditional landscaping, Southern landscaping, English landscaping, hedges, topiaries, and structure. Which is exactly what we’re going for in terms of landscaping, to match our Georgian colonial home. Ready to dive in?

PLANTING

Boxwoods are tolerate to most neutral soil types (pH between 6.5 and 7.5), but one thing that is imperative when it comes to planting… good drainage. That means you’ll need to choose a good location! Boxwoods are susceptible to root diseases and rot, which means adequate drainage is necessary. Avoid planting them in wet or low-lying areas.

Planting boxwoods in a good location means they’ll be healthy and easy to maintain. Look for a well draining area in full sun to part shade conditions. If you’re in a really hot climate, afternoon shade can work to your advantage. This also depends on what species you have, so read the tag carefully or double check with your local garden center for tips! Some of the prettiest boxwoods I’ve seen, live at my friend Jackie’s house in Ohio (pictured below)– they do such an amazing job with them…

Mulch is another key component to planting boxwoods. Apply a generous layer of mulch (1-3 inches) around your boxwoods to help lock in soil moisture and provide protection. This will keep the roots nice and insulated.

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POTTING

Boxwoods make excellent container plants- they add beautiful texture, color, and a sculptural element that can easily be moved around. Opt for a container that is as wide as the boxwood is tall. If your boxwood is eight inches, you’ll need a pot that is eight inches in diameter. As it grows, you’ll need to transplant it to a larger pot. Regular potting soil typically works well for container boxwoods.

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WATERING

Boxwoods require regular watering…. if you receive less than one inch of rainfall per week, you should definitely consider setting up irrigation, a soaker hose, or plan to water each boxwood by hand. Ours are set up with a sprinkler system. Continue watering your boxwoods prior to freezing temperatures, then you’ll need to winterize them (keep scrolling for that step)!

If you have potted boxwoods, set a reminder to water those plants as well! Those are often the ones that are forgotten- and they require a bit more water, thanks to nicely draining pots.

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FERTILIZING

Fertilizing isn’t always necessary for boxwoods, but if your soil is deficient in certain nutrients or the pH level is off, you may want to consider fertilizer. Boxwoods are also prone to nitrogen deficiency, so if you notice leaves that are beginning to yellow or leaf fall out- it may be wise to perform a soil test. When should you fertilize? Early spring… apply your preferred fertilizer around the base of the plant. We prefer to use these tablets! We just discovered them and they work really well.

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PRUNING

Pruning your boxwoods is a necessary step because it improves air circulation, promotes growth, and enhances their shape for a better look. You should plan to prune once a year. Many people recommend pruning in late fall or early winter, but for our Winter Gem species, they actually do best with early spring pruning. This is another excellent question for your local garden center, as each species varies.

Prune in small increments, trimming no more than a third of the plant at a time… less is more! However, if your plant is in distress (yellowing leaves, disease, etc), more pruning may be necessary. You’ll want to cut out the entire section in hopes of saving the remainder of the plant.

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WINTER PREP

Boxwoods can take on a yellow or orange hue in the winter from drying in the wind, frost, or intense sun from the summer season. I’ll link some products we use to prevent this below, but it’s always a good idea to “winterize” your boxwoods. Wrapping breathable burlap around your plants can help prevent this, as well as breakage due to the weight of snowfall during the winter months. This will help protect your plant and its shape- especially if it’s a new plant. Established boxwoods are typically fine, but it’s a great precaution to take. You’ll also want to keep the roots insulated with a thick (three inch) layer of mulch through the fall and winter months.

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MUST-HAVE PRODUCTS

Emmett & I have a couple favorite products we use to help our boxwoods along…. especially since we live in a harsh, extreme climate. Among our favorites we’ve tried are:

• WiltStop Plant Protector // a transparent protective coating that forms a flexible film on shrubs that holds moisture in, reducing water loss. It protects plants from drying out, drought, wind burn, intense sun, transplant shock, and salt damage.
• TopBoxus Boxwood Restore & Protect // a fertilizer that includes nutrients for optimal growth & strength, producing healthy green, shiny leaves. 

I hope this post was helpful if you also have boxwoods or plan to plant them in the future! Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below. Here’s to a beautiful spring weekend ahead, friends!