Take a look at some of the articles below on English Boxwoods by Dr. Stephen Southall
Wonderful news for you and your garden – deer absolutely HATE English boxwood. Many of you know of the wonderful aroma that an English boxwood has, well that is apparently what repels them. Our home is at the end of a street and there are woods on three sides of us – a wonderful playground for deer. In the 30 years that I have been raising boxwood, I have never had any damaged by deer. There are plenty around as […]
It is very important to sample the soil to determine the level of nutrients and even more importantly to determine the pH. Without the proper pH, boxwood are not able to absorb the nutrients, even if they are abundant in the ground. I have outlined the steps below in taking a sample and sending it to the VA Tech Extension service for analysis. The form that is required can be found at the link below. Be sure to include my […]
There are two optimal times of the year to root English Boxwood. Late February / early March is an excellent time after the major freezes of winter are over and before any new growth comes out in the spring. The other optimal rooting period is late June or early July after the new growth has matured. Our experience of rooting at English Boxwoods of Virginia has shown us that both of these times are equally effective. The timing may be based […]
Plucking, the selected removal of stems from boxwood to facilitate air circulation, light penetration and inner growth of leaves, is an integral part of any preventative maintenance program for boxwood. In addition to fostering the health of the parent plant, plucking provides a source of cuttings for propagation. See “propagation/rooting.” This paper will focus on the process and benefits of plucking. In a preventative maintenance program for boxwood, the plucking or thinning referred to above is a high priority. When carried out […]
Background: As with most tasks, the adequacy and thoroughness of the preparations determine to a great extent the successfulness of the venture. Boxwood have a root system which is very conducive to transplanting. It is fibrous, slightly larger than the drip line of the plant, with a depth of approximately one third the height of the plant. The most ideal time to transplant boxwood is the fall, and spring is the next preference. The reason for this time schedule is that […]
Spring is the time of year when we all want to get out and “spruce up” our gardens. Because of time pressure we also want to create as maintenance-free environment as possible. One way (but not a good way) that we can attempt to improve the long-term appearance and cut down on future weeding is by applying a layer of plastic covered with mulch. Plastic has come into our lives in many and various ways over the last few decades. It […]
Check newly planted boxwood on a very regular basis especially the ground moisture in the soil surrounding them. The summer can be a very stressful time for boxwood planted during the spring. Check to determine whether they are stressed as indicated by dieback, off-color in the foliage, or a crispy feel to the leaves. Unfortunately, if any of these conditions exist to a great extent the plant may already be terminal. Nevertheless, immediate action should be taken. First, checking the […]
ASSESS EFFECTS OF WINTER DAMAGE IN EARLY SPRING Besides the dryness of summer, winter is one of the harshest times of the year on boxwood. The most severe stress comes from the combination of cold winter winds and frozen ground, thus not allowing water to move up into the plant. Either one of these stresses alone is not as dangerous as the two in combination. Winds cause plant desiccation (drying) and the moisture must be replaced. If the roots and […]
