We grow boxwood: planting, care, reproduction and proper watering of the plant. Evergreen boxwood shrub: planting, care, reproduction
Boxwood is an evergreen plant that grows in the form of a shrub or tree. Cute bushes with small foliage have long been used to decorate both garden and park areas and homes. Today, boxwood, due to its good pruning tolerance, is often used not only in single plantings, but also for garden zoning when group landings as borders.
Boxwood: varieties and types
In nature, the genus includes about 100 species, the habitats of which are the African, Central American and Euro-Asian regions. Only a few varieties are cultivated in gardens, on the basis of which very interesting forms and varieties have been bred by breeders.
evergreen boxwood
In the wild, the species is represented by trees reaching 15 m in height, sometimes shrubs, with straight shoots densely covered with dark green glossy leaves. Opposite leaves with barely noticeable petioles do not exceed 3 cm in length. When flowering, greenish capitate inflorescences are noted, consisting of same-sex flowers. Seeds ripen in capsule-shaped fruits.
Popular varieties:
- Sufrotikoza - a very slowly growing shrub up to 1 m in height with opposite ovate leaves and small flowers. Suitable for creating borders and green fences.
- Blauer Heinz is a new frost-resistant variety used for carpet ornaments no higher than 20 cm, with rather stiff shoots covered with leathery leaf plates of green-blue color.
- elegans is a variegated representative of the species, represented by spherical shrubs of a meter height.
small-leaved boxwood
In comparison with the previous species, it reacts less sharply to frost. Without shelter, a Korean offspring can withstand temperatures as low as -30°C, but needs protection from the scorching spring rays.
The best varieties:
- Winter Jam is a fast-growing variety up to one and a half meters in height with excellent frost resistance. The dense crown tolerates pruning well.
- Faulkner is a slow growing member of the species with a compact crown that usually forms into a ball.
Boxwood is an unpretentious evergreen shrub with bright, succulent leaves that attracts the eye, ennobles our gardens, adjoining territories. This plant is common in almost all countries of Europe, Asia, North America. Of its many species, only one is found in our country - evergreen boxwood, growing like a low tree (up to 10 m) or, most often, like a bush. Planting boxwood and caring for it are not particularly difficult, but they have their own nuances, which we will draw your attention to.
This plant perfectly withstands partial shade or even shade, tolerates summer heat well. Boxwood is frost-resistant, withstands temperatures down to -20-22°C. Winter protection, shelter in the south for boxwood is not needed. It well tolerates the adverse conditions of the city - smoke, high levels of gases. Easily withstands planting, transplanting (no matter how old the bushes are), as well as cutting, keeping the shape given to it for a long time.
To date, evergreen boxwood is widely used by landscape designers. With certain skills, all kinds of geometric figures, animal silhouettes. The creation of hedges, the artistic cutting of green shrubs is called topiary art.
Boxwoods - what species can be grown on a plot or cottage?
Boxwood is not capricious plant, but on loose, fertilizer-rich soil it will feel better, which will affect the density of the crown and its size. It is characterized by high shade tolerance, moisture-loving, but also relatively drought-resistant.
For different decorative ideas appropriate types of shrubs are used. For example, for low curbs slow-growing, frost-resistant species (Bleuer Heinz, Suffruticosa) are best suited. Lush hedge from boxwood is possible thanks to the variety Rotundifolia, Buxus sempervirens or Handsworthiensis. To create balls or small figurines suitable grade Green Gem.
It is worth focusing on some varieties, as they are most often used for decorating summer cottages:
- Buxus Sempervirens is the most common type of boxwood in our country. He survives winters well, lends himself well to haircuts, shaping figures.
- Buxus Suffruticosa is frost-resistant, optimally suited for medium-sized hedges, characterized by vertical crown growth, ovoid leaves.
- Blauer Heinz is a stocky, slow growing species. The direction of growth of the shoots is up, the leaves have a bluish tint. This boxwood is used to form "rugs", low borders, curly ornaments. Bred relatively recently, more frost-resistant than the variety Suffruticosa.
- Buxus Arborescens is a shade-tolerant tall shrub with a dense crown and fleshy ovate leaves. It has a rich dark green color of the leaf with a lighter transition from top to bottom. It is not capricious about the composition of the soil, but it feels better on calcareous, not very dry, drained soils.
- Buxus Winter Gem microphylia is a small-leaved shrub with a dense crown, belongs to fast-growing varieties, lends itself well to shaping. Ideal for topiary work, edging flower beds. Loves sun and partial shade fertile soil, systematic watering.
- Buxus Faulkner microphylia - when growing, it gives a natural spherical crown shape, which is very convenient for the subsequent formation of balls. It also prefers sunny and semi-shady places, regular watering, fertile, micronutrient-rich soil.
- Buxus colchica - Colchis boxwood. This is a wild Caucasian variety, which is the most frost-resistant among its counterparts. It has small fleshy leaves, is characterized by very slow growth, is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
You can buy boxwood for planting in the relevant online stores, specialized departments of supermarkets. For these purposes, already grown seedlings are sold, packed in agrofiber or special pots.
How to propagate boxwood?
Propagation of boxwood by cuttings is carried out by selecting young, but already lignified shoots that take root easily. For this, the upper, normally formed part 10 cm long is used. The calendar term of cuttings is important. This should be done either in early spring (February, March), when shoot growth points awaken, or closer to autumn (August-September).
Before rooting, the cuttings are disinfected with a cherry-colored manganese solution. It is desirable to use growth stimulants, such as Kornevin (Heteroauxin) or a new, very effective drug SILK.
Rooting is carried out in boxes, on greenhouse racks or in open ground. When rooting, sand is usually used, which is poured with a 5-centimeter layer on a thicker layer of loose, fertile soil.
Watering is done regularly with a watering can. During the heat, the cuttings are watered at least 5 times a day, and at a temperature of less than 20 ° C, you can limit yourself to three waterings.
During summer rooting, shading of the nursery is necessary. Early-spring cuttings of boxwood allow you to get seedlings suitable for planting in one year, and summer - only after two years.
Boxwood - planting and care
Before planting boxwood, the soil must be saturated with appropriate fertilizers. If you use fertile soil when planting boxwood, then they will grow faster, and if the soil is not rich in mineral compounds, useful dressings- it's slower. The main requirement is well-drained soil.
When planting bushes, it is necessary to take into account the time for rooting the bush - about 1 month. According to an old adage, blooming in spring plants are best planted in autumn (or vice versa). Spring is the flowering time of this plant, so transplanting boxwood in the fall will be more appropriate. But if you wish to move the planting time to early spring, then nothing terrible will happen. Experienced gardeners claim that the spring adaptation of seedlings passes without problems.
How to transplant boxwood:
- Seedlings are watered abundantly on the eve of transplantation - this is necessary for the subsequent convenient removal of the plant from the pot.
- To the bottom of the dug hole (which should be twice as deep and as wide as root system bush) perlite is poured, with a layer of 3-4 cm. It will act as a drainage.
- The seedling is carefully removed from the pot, while its roots should not be bent. After that, the bush is placed in a prepared hole, the space around it is filled with earth mixed with perlite (1: 1). Make sure that the barrel is pointing straight up.
- The hole is filled to the top, the soil is pressed a little by hand, followed by abundant watering of the plant.
- We fill up the soil that has sagged after watering and again add a layer of perlite (2-3 cm) from above - this completes the planting of boxwood.
The shrub requires serious care during changeable weather conditions in late autumn or winter. Alternating frosts with thaws the best way affects the plant, its roots, so the protection of boxwood must be taken care of in advance.
IN middle lane In Russia, 5-7 days before the onset of frost, the bushes must be watered abundantly, and the ground under the bush should be covered with peat or needles (or finely chopped bark) coniferous plants. To avoid ruining the plant, do not use foliage for mulching. If the winter is not very severe, then the leaves will begin to rot, thereby provoking the growth of pathogenic fungi.
To the question: is it necessary to cover boxwood for the winter, the answer will be positive. With the onset of frost (not less than -10 ° C), these plants require warming. Spherical shrubs are covered with wooden or plastic containers, which must have ventilation holes. Boxwood bushes of a different shape are tied up, covered with dense material (for example, lutrasil, spunbond, spantex).
In the Kuban, boxwood is not covered for the winter.
When heat sets in, all covering materials are removed to prevent rotting and overheating. Snow should be removed to provide access sun rays to the soil.
April or May - best time for trimming boxwood bushes. Crown correction should be accurate, as one should not forget about the rather slow growth of this shrub.
The plant is cut for the first time a year after planting, when it becomes clear that its root system has gained strength and strengthened.
When boxwood is sheared, a kind of stimulation of the growth of lateral branches occurs - this process also has a positive effect on crown density.
Pests and diseases of boxwood
Care and planting of boxwood are critical stages, but protecting the plant from pests and diseases is of great importance. With proper care, the risk of a problem can be minimized, but the most common dangers for evergreen shrubs should be mentioned.
Photo of boxwood affected by boxwood moth (Armavir, Krasnodar region— 2016):
to be so attractive ornamental plant in the backyard or dacha, many wish, but not everyone succeeds. The reason for this is ignorance of biology and methods of growing boxwood. Planting boxwood and caring for it, as well as timely protection from pests, carried out in accordance with all the rules, is a guarantee of the beauty and individuality of your site.
Below is another video. The author called it "Dreamy and classic boxwood gardens." Maybe a preview will give you an idea of how best to decorate your garden with boxwood.
Boxwood (buxus, buxus, stone tree) has been known as an ornamental evergreen shrub for a very long time. This is one of best plants for landscaping areas 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 various kinds. In the wild, bush grows in the Mediterranean, East Africa, Asia Minor, Central America, 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 color leaves are yellow-green below.
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 it 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. Is different rapid 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.
Special attention should be given 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 to plant young seedlings in Moscow or Leningrad region- it's 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 they say 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 you can add on top of the drainage fertile soil or compost.
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 for the entire growing season. In the spring they bring in, rich in nitrogen, in summer and autumn - phosphorus - potassium.
When watering, focus on weather. 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 boxwood evergreen tolerates quite well sub-zero temperatures, long very coldy can kill the plant. Small bushes are covered with boxes with ventilation holes. A hedge is covered with a specially designed nonwoven fabric.
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. planted in open ground maybe 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 bottom of the cutting, the lower tip is dipped in and buried in a light, nutrient soil 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 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 winter period- all these qualities inherent in buxus open up unlimited possibilities for landscape designers to use this plant.
Separately planted bushes with the help of a haircut give the most various forms: from simple geometric to complex figures . 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 Location on: garbage bins, 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.
This evergreen shrub looks great even in winter. Take a look at the photo, its glossy bright green, rounded leaves confidently peek out from under the snowdrifts, symbolizing life. It is believed that evergreen boxwood is able to protect from evil spells and fulfill wishes. This article is all about the variety of varieties, planting, proper care, subtleties of cultivation, methods of propagation of buxus.
Varieties and varieties of evergreen boxwood
Three areas of growth of boxwood (buxus) in nature are known: on the African continent; northern Mexico and Cuba. The largest natural distribution area of buxus is the southern regions of the European continent, the foothills of the Caucasus, China and Japan.
Colchis boxwood
In Russia, buxus grows wild in the territory Krasnodar Territory, in Adygea, in the gorges of the Caucasus mountains, where mountain rivers. The only species of boxwood found here is Colchis (Buxus colchica). Unfortunately, the natural habitat of boxwood in Russia is constantly declining, the reason for this is the barbaric deforestation of shrubs and the deterioration of the environmental situation: the culture is listed in the Red Book.
Only about 30 types of buxus are known, but only a few of them are widely used for ornamental gardening. Boxwoods are long-lived in the world of shrubs. The life expectancy of one bush can be 500 years.
For landscaping the territories of gardens and parks, the following varieties of evergreen buxus (Buxus semperv irens) are used:
- Suffruticosis - characterized by a strictly vertical direction of growth;
Variety Suffruticosis
- Blauer Heinz - rigid shoots are directed strictly upwards, grows very slowly, the color of the leaves is bluish;
Variety Blauer Heinz
- elegans - used in landscape design to form spherical garden forms. The bush is naturally spherical in shape, the leaves are green;
Sort Elegans
- Buxus treelike - in shape resembles large bush or small tree. The leaves are dark green. The tallest of all varieties;
Buxus arborescens
- Winter Gem is a low growing, slow growing shrub with small leaves, suitable for creating garden topiary forms and container growing.
Variety Winter Gem
Proper planting is the key to good growth of boxwood bushes
The place for landing the axle box must meet a number of requirements. The thing is that the culture grows well and develops on moderately moist soils. Ideal for planting areas with sandy or loamy soil composition. Heavy acidic soil not suitable for planting bushes of evergreen boxwood, therefore, in such areas, measures should be taken in advance to improve the soil structure.
High level ground water adversely affect the development of the boxwood root system. Given that the culture has been growing in one place for over 500 years, the site should be selected carefully, taking into account the existing topography, soil composition and groundwater level.
Soil composition is very important for boxwood
Boxwood has a special relationship to the effects of sunlight. The plant prefers to grow in partial shade. Of course, it is difficult to avoid plantings from the sun if boxwood bushes are used to create hedges. But, ideally, the plant grows well and develops in the presence of shading from direct sunlight.
Evergreens continue to grow in winter, when they can become dehydrated in deeply frozen soil, which is exacerbated when plants are planted in full sun. A dehydrated boxwood bush can lose most of its leaves and even die.
Boxwood seedlings
Usually, buxus is planted in the garden in the spring, decorating them or. Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the crown and root system of seedlings. The roots should not be dried and broken, and the crown should not have bare spots and yellow leaves.
For planting bushes, separate pits or trenches are made (when arranging hedges), the depth of the prepared pits should be twice the length of the roots of the seedlings.
Advice! The distance between planted boxwood bushes in a row should be at least 30 cm.
Young plantings of boxwood respond well to watering and spraying the bushes on the leaves.
Boxwood care: some subtleties of growing a crop
Planting and caring for the crop, performed correctly, in compliance with agrotechnical requirements, allow you to grow a healthy plant that long years can decorate the garden.
Cultural care includes:
- Periodic watering.
- Soil loosening.
- Timely removal of weeds.
- Creating shading over plants from the scorching sun during the summer months.
- Regular top dressing, seasonal fertilization.
Boxwood requires regular care
Diseased plants that have been attacked by pests should be treated with special preparations. To prevent the development of diseases, it is necessary to periodically inspect the growing boxwood bushes.
Separately, it should be noted the rules for caring for boxwood when performing formative pruning of bushes and creating curly trees. It is allowed to carry out pruning in the warm season during the period of plant growth - from April to September. The cutting of the bushes is repeated at intervals of 4 weeks, while it is necessary to fertilize and feed the emerging plants.
Advice! In winter, in severe frosts, it is useful to snatch the bushes of wintering boxwood with special films that conduct light.
Fertilizer and top dressing of Buxus evergreen
From April to August, boxwood needs regular feeding. Best of all, plants absorb special fertilizers in liquid form, which are applied weekly under the root, or in the form foliar feeding by leaves.
Boxwood needs to be fed several times a year.
The plant itself is able to signal a lack of nitrogen: its leaves acquire a reddish color with a hint of bronze.
When planting boxwood bushes, granulated organic and mineral fertilizers. In autumn, it is useful to feed boxwood with potash fertilizers.
Boxwood breeding methods
If necessary, you can get young boxwood plants yourself. For this there is cutting method plants. Although the growth of culture is not fast, the boxwood stalk takes root and forms young plant during the warm period.
Rooted cuttings of boxwood
Cuttings with a length of at least 20-30 cm should be harvested with healthy plants. It is best not to cut them off from the mother stem, but to break them out “with a heel”. Cuttings are planted in humus-rich soil in special boxes, which are located in a greenhouse or greenhouse. It is not necessary to cover the planted boxwood cuttings with foil.
seed way culture propagation is rarely used, given the slow growth.
Diseases and pests: how to properly protect boxwood
The presence of alkaloids in the leaves of the buxus greatly reduces the risk of damage to the plant by pests and the development of diseases on the shrub. However, some pests are so stubborn that they can harm the plant, despite its dense glossy leaves.
- The mining boxwood fly (boxwood gall midge) causes great harm to the plant. Timely detection of a pest on the leaves of a plant and treatment with special preparations will save the plant from damage by these pests. The fly, remaining on the plant, reproduces rapidly, the larvae of this pest do not die even in winter. They get inside leaf blades, form swellings, hibernate, settling in the spring on unaffected leaves.
box fly
- Boxwood felt is another crop pest that infects the crown of the plant, penetrating the leaves and young shoots. The affected parts of the bush are cut out and burned.
- The spider mite colonizes the plant during the dry summer months. Systematic spraying of the plant on the leaves can prevent the appearance of the pest. Treatment - treatment with Fufanon, Actellik, Neoron, Fitoverm.
Advice! Spray plants more often in the summer.
- Often shoots with dried tips appear on boxwood bushes. The disease is caused by the fungus Volutella buxi. Control measures - pruning and treatment with systemic fungicides.
Volutella buxi infestation
- Boxwood is also sick with cancer, which develops on broken or old branches. Such shoots need to be cut to healthy wood.
Correct pruning of boxwood: video
Boxwood in landscape design: photo
In order to grow a beautiful evergreen boxwood in the country, you need to know not only how to plant it, but also how to care for it.
Boxwood, like no other plant, is suitable for creating figures and compositions from conifers, it is considered a classic in the use of topiary art.
He is not particularly whimsical in care, so even an amateur gardener will be able to grow him.
Let's start with planting boxwood.
Place and soil
Choose a site not with direct sunlight, in winter such a site will become death. Plant boxwood only in partial shade.
The soil should be nutritious, loam with deep groundwater, drained so that the water does not stagnate, not acidic. If necessary, liming should be carried out to raise the pH level. Ready-made compost is added to sandy soil. If there are no conditions for planting boxwood, do not worry, it can be grown in tubs.
Landing
You can plant boxwood in spring and autumn. Rooting takes from 1 month, in the fall it should be taken into account so that the first frosts do not destroy the plant. Water the boxwood generously the day before planting so that the plant comes out of the pot without problems. Dig up landing pit 3-3.5 times larger and deeper than the earthy coma of the plant. Lay drainage at the bottom of the pit with a layer of 2-3 cm, perlite is well suited for this. Mix the excavated soil with perlite in a ratio of 1:1. Set the shrub up, spreading the roots so they don't bend, and gradually backfill the hole to the surface, deepening the plant to growing height in the container. Compact the soil with your hands so that there are no voids left inside. Pour rain or settled water during the day. Calculate the required volume of water based on the height of the seedling (for 15-20 cm - 3 liters of water). The soil will begin to sag, then add mixed soil with perlite, but without compaction. Not far from the bush, at a distance of 20-30 cm, make an earthen mound in a circle so that the water does not spread when watering.
Keep the distance depending on the goal:
- between certain types 3-4 m, in the case of a hedge or creating a composition, it is reduced to 25 cm,
- but to frame the flower beds, seedlings 10-15 cm high are planted every 10 cm (after planting, cut by 1/3).
Care
Boxwood is unpretentious, it is not damaged by diseases and pests, since the plant itself is poisonous. However, despite such fearlessness, winter is still dangerous for an evergreen shrub with its withering winds, temperature drops, thaw and the opportunity to get sunburn. During this time, boxwood can die from frostbite, excessive moisture, or vice versa from dried soil. To prevent this, before the expected frosts, water the plant well and mulch with peat. Do not use dry leaves as mulch for the winter, as they can rot, which will cause a fungal disease.
In stable frosty weather -10 ° C, insulate the boxwood (spherical) with a wooden box, making holes for ventilation. Undersized varieties can be covered with non-woven fabric. Be sure to tie the bushes to the support so that the thickness of the snow does not break off the branches. Tall varieties boxwood cover with burlap close to the bush. In early spring remove the shelter (first free the lower part, after 5-7 days the entire bush), shovel the snow near the plant so that the soil begins to warm up faster. Adult shrubs can. It is possible to increase winter hardiness potash fertilizer, which will lead to faster lignification of the shoots.
From winter-hardy varieties boxwood is worth highlighting "Blauer Heinz", "Handsworthiensis", "Herrenhausen", "Buxus Sempervirens". 
Top dressing should be applied weekly in the active growth phase (April-September), during the dormant period it is pointless to do this, as well as pruning. For this, fertilizer "Baikal EM-1" and a solution are suitable.
Adult plants (3-8 years old) easily tolerate transplanting at any time of the year, except for winter.
Caring for boxwood in tubs. In dry and hot weather, the potted soil dries out quickly, so water the plant daily. Starting in April, carry out regular liquid feeding, which can be combined with watering. Reddening of the leaves is a sure sign of a lack of nitrogen. For the winter, place the pot of boxwood in an even larger container, filling the voids with crushed bark. In this form, place the plant on 2 wooden blocks to avoid direct contact with the soil.
pruning boxwood
Trim these evergreens monthly between April and September, and they will thank you with their lush, dense foliage. Do not forget that the more often a haircut, the more watering and fertilizing is required to replenish. vitality. For trimming, it is convenient to use scissors with short blades.
Pruning is carried out in April-May, depending on weather and climatic conditions.
Boxwood grows slowly, so at first do only shaping (corrective) pruning. Anti-aging is carried out only for adult shapeless specimens.
To form a spherical shape of boxwood, it is convenient to use a template that is sold in stores or cut out half the diameter of the ball from cardboard, attach it to a bush and cut off all branches protruding beyond the template.
It will take years to form a boxwood ball on a trunk, but it's worth it.
To do this, cut all side shoots to the desired height, and shorten the rest for better branching.
Remove young growths at the bottom of the trunk to form a beautiful lollipop.
reproduction
Boxwood is propagated by cuttings:
- Cuttings are taken either at the end of June or at the beginning of September. Each should have 2-3 internodes, i.e. approximately 10 cm long.
- Delete lower leaves, leaving only the top 2, lower the ends into a growth stimulator and plant them in a container with a substrate (peat and garden soil at the rate of 1:1).
- Cover with glass jar.
- You can also plant cuttings in a cold greenhouse, maintaining high humidity.
- Water every other day, moderately.
- After 3-4 weeks, the cuttings will take root, and by the fall they can be transplanted to a permanent place. H
- and winter must be covered with spruce branches.
If you see that the cuttings have not grown stronger for transplanting, then transfer them to the house on the windowsill until spring.
