The Not So Ubiquitous Boxwood

» ______MarcellaGM - Sorry

I would just like to say that I'm sorry for the delay in this article showing up, for real and not just announced on my welcome page. There was a tiny glitch that has now been fixed. It is now available to peruse, if you so desire. LOL!

On an expedition out into the garden, rare when its cold outside, I came across a small group of Buxus "Varigata" I stuck into the ground several years ago. They were unrooted cuttings and I stuck them in the heavy shade of a Deodora Ceder. They have not only rooted but have grown, not very tall, mind you, in the dry soil around the roots of the tree.

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM

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» Marge_Talt - boxwood

Marcella,

I'm so glad the glich got solved and your mysterious disappearing article has appeared!

I also want to thank you for sorting out something that has bugged me for a while, namely the difference between the so-called "English" and "American" boxwoods. I knew that both were Buxus sempervirens, since that is the only species native to Europe...but I did not know what the different cultivars were and had not found that info. in any of my resources. Yet, since I grow the "American" one, I also knew it was somewhat different from the ancient ones I've seen in the UK. So many thanks!!

I've got a baby variegated boxwood in a pot. It's about 15" to 18" tall now and, I hope, getting large enough to find a home in the garden. I've been a tad worried about its hardiness. Do you know anything about that? Mine came unlabeled at a plant exchange...just saw those leaves and lunged for it!

-- posted by Marge_Talt

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» ______MarcellaGM - 'English' versus 'American' Boxwood

Marge, I had the same questions, which was which and how to sort them out? To tell the truth, I still have some questions. Also I became fasinated with the names and discriptions of some of the new cultivars. Right now I am planning to buy a columner Japanese Boxwood.

I don't think you should have too much of a problem with hardiness in your area. I have taken many cuttings of my varigated Boxwood and have treated some with loving care and others with down right abuse and they have all survived. I believe you get more snow so you problably have more protection in the winter. My poor plants, those that are out in the open, would get blasted by the cold right down to the roots if I didn't keep them heavily mulched. The Mother plant came from a garden that sits at a high elevation and is exposed to the wind. It does get winter snow covers.

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM

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» Marge_Talt - boxwood musings

Marcella,

I'm delighted to hear my variegated baby should be OK. With your comment in your article about the ease of taking cuttings, I think I ought to take some from it so I can have more than one plant.

Yes, when we have a heavy snow, I will be found out with a broom knocking it off the box - it basically flattens them out. I've heard tell of people who build elaborate wooden structures to place over their boxwood so that the snow doesn't do that...but I find a few whacks with a broom handle right after the snow does the trick.

I also noted, with interest, your mention of a columnar box...I don't believe I've ever seen one of those, but it certainly does sound interesting!

I, personally, like the scent of boxwood - some people hate it - but, to me it's part of summer, like the calls of the mourning doves. Now for revolting scents, I'll vote for privet flowers (Ligustrum) - makes me absolutely gag.

-- posted by Marge_Talt

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» Naomi_Mathews - I adore my boxwoods...

About 5 years ago, we needed either a hedge or a fence between the south edge of our yard and our neighbor's driveway. We have a very deep lot, and had already constructed a very nice "good neighbor" fence on this south side, up to the point where the yard begins quite a nice slope down to the front sidewalk. Since I'm not crazy about "fences" to begin with, I thought it would be nice to have some sort of "hedge" from where the fence ended to the sidewalk. So, I began my search at our local nursery to see what would look best there. BEHOLD! I took one look at their Boxwoods and fell in love with them on the spot. I purchased 13 plants, spaced them properly, planted them in the bed I talked my dear hubby into preparing for me, and now have a LOVELY boxwood hedge. The plants have thrived (we live in Eastern Washington just over the hill from you!) and all I do each year is fertilze them twice--early spring and mid-summer--with "Miracid" fertilizer that I spray on with my water hose. This feeds them the iron they need to keep their leaves green and healthy. We've had them "flattened" many times by our heavy snows, but I've never lost one yet! I have yet to prune them in any way, and they are ever so fresh looking year around! They are not quite 3 feet tall, after 5-6 years of growth, which is perfect!

I was so enamored with those, that when I had to re-do our front flower bed, I chose the very smallest Japanese boxwoods I could find, and enclosed the entire flower bed with those. They follow the curved sidewalk that leads to our front door, and are perfect for keeping the soil OFF the sidewalk. Again, they are very easy care, and are slow growing. Our very cold winter weather doesn't seem to affect them adversely, and I've yet to lose one of those!

One more thing--exactly how would I go about making new "starts" from these great garden plants? I didn't know that was possible, but would love to try it!

-- posted by Naomi_Mathews

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» Marge_Talt - boxwood cuttings

Naomi,

I've done a fair amount of propagation by cuttings, but not boxwood. I, too, would love to have Marcella tell us just how she goes about it...time of year that's best; length of cutting; hormone dip/powder or not; enclose in plastic or not...you know, Marcella, all the details!

-- posted by Marge_Talt

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» ______MarcellaGM - Propagating Boxwood

Naomi, I am so glad to hear you are enjoying your boxwood. I can really see why they have been used in gardens for centuries. For me they bring order to my otherwise overgrown 'Cottage' garden.

Marge, I hear both you and Naomi. Here is my way of taking Boxwood cuttings and I seem to have very good luck.

The first cuttings I took were in the early winter. I wanted starts from a garden I was visiting and the owner generously gave me permission to take some. The time was not ideal, early winter, and the cuttings took a long time to root in my cool green house. It goes down to forty degrees on really cold winter days. But, when oportunity knocks you need to go for it because you might not have another chance. Ideal times would be in the spring and late summer.

I use vermiculite for cuttings. I put the vermiculite into regular four inch containers and then water them well. I take two kinds of Boxwood cuttings, tip cuttings, maybe two inches and then I take off the lower leaves, maybe half way up. The other type of cutting I take is a heel cutting that includes some of the old wood, the heel would comprise of a piece of the bark or cambium layer that was ripped off if when you pulled the cutting off from where it was conected to the bush. These cuttings also include several little branches like a tiny shrub. I pull some of the lower branches off, like the tip cutting leaves.

If I use root hormone, I don't always, I knock a little of it on to a piece of paper, this keeps your main supply of rooting hormone fresher. I dip the stem of the cutting into it.

I crowd my cuttings into the four inch container and make a green house cover with bubble wrap and four little bamboo stakes. I like the bubble wrap because it doesn't deflate like plastic bags have a tendency to do. I can also cut the bubble wrap to form a box-like enclosure. If you do not want to go through the trouble you can use a propogating box with a high plastic lid and add other types of cuttings as you aquire them.

When the covers are on I forget them except to make sure they are not drying out. I'm very casual about get results but, if you are in a hurry you might try gently pulling them to see if they have rooted. Why I like vermiculite is because I have been known to dump the contents out to check for roots and the vermicuite is loose so the tender roots aren't harmed.

When they are rooted I transfer the cuttings to individual four inch containers and put in a good transplanting mix, like 'Black Gold' something that has nutrients added to it.

If the weather is good I put them outside in a protected area near my green house where I can tend to them and where they will not get baked by the sun.

When the roots begin to fill the container I plant them in the ground in a 'holding' area of my garden. There they can grow on until moved. If they are to spend the winter outdoors, not planted in the ground, I protect them by burying them up to their necks in planting soil, pots and all.

Like I said in my article I have made hundreds of Boxwood cuttings and I always have some going. kind of like a bank account.

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM

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» Marge_Talt - cuttings

Marcella,

Many thanks for the detailed instructions - that was exactly what I wanted to know.

I was also delighted with your bubble wrap idea...never thought of that and have always had a fit with plastic bags deflating and all...what a good idea!

No quesiton about it - this spring will be boxwood cutting time!

-- posted by Marge_Talt

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