Boxwood: care, reproduction

The boxwood plant is an evergreen shrub that grows in warm countries. It is often used for arranging hedges or for arranging bonsai, as it thrives in confined spaces and forms branched bushes.

Planting boxwood

Contrary to popular belief that it is best to plant plants in the spring, autumn is ideal for planting boxwood. The best option would be the second half of September. But some gardeners manage to successfully plant boxwood even in warm weather. For boxwood, a shaded place with clay and moist soil is suitable. It is good if there is lime in the soil. Bright rays are destructive to boxwood leaves.

Decide on the date for planting the boxwood and the day before this date, generously water the root system of the plant, covered with a lump of earth. This is necessary to make it easier to remove the plant from the container later. If you can, remove the plant from the container immediately and place the roots in water.

Make a hole in the ground three times larger than the size of the earthen ball. Sprinkle the bottom of the hole with a layer of drainage two or three centimeters thick. Perlite is suitable for drainage. Mix it with the soil that you removed from the hole. Straighten the plant's root system and place it in the hole. Cover the roots with a mixture of soil and perlite, avoiding any air pockets. Then compact the soil and water the plant with settled water. Then add more soil. Make a shaft of soil around the seedling at a distance of twenty centimeters from the trunk. It is necessary to prevent water from spreading when watering.

Boxwood care

This plant does not tolerate bright sun and freezing. As a result of low temperatures and cold winds, boxwood may die. Therefore, take measures in advance to preserve the plant.

You can insulate boxwood seedlings in different ways - these can be special nets, burlap, plywood boxes, coniferous spruce branches, etc. After the onset of warm spring weather, immediately remove the insulation, otherwise the plant will dry out.

During the summer season, mulch the soil with peat or humus, and water constantly. In general, the soil surrounding boxwood should always be moist. To moisten the leaves, spray the boxwood from the aerator. Definitely in summer feed plant with organic or mineral fertilizers.

Before the onset of winter cold, water the boxwood thoroughly, thereby giving the plant a supply of moisture. Then mulch the soil around the boxwood with peat or pine needles. Do not use fallen leaves for this purpose.
Trim the plant several times a year to give it an aesthetic shape.

Boxwood propagation

This plant can multiply by seeds or vegetative method. The first method gives a fairly good result. Sprouts hatch from the seeds quite quickly and during the warm season they manage to grow up to 15 centimeters in height. But this method also has several disadvantages:

• Only very fresh seeds can be sown. Literally after a year they lose their germination capacity.
• The germination rate of seeds is very low. Even after pre-sowing treatment, no more than a third of the seeds germinate.
• Since boxwood is constantly trimmed, the ripening of full-fledged seeds is very problematic.

From this point of view, propagation of boxwood by cuttings is more attractive. Use pruning shears to cut a boxwood branch up to 20 centimeters long. Try to take branches from the bottom of the plant. Take the branches that are not yet woody, but strong enough. Remove the lower leaves to expose the two internodes. Now slightly damage the bark of the twig by running a needle or just your fingernail along it.

For rooting, use only soil. Take small pots and fill them with light, permeable soil. Plant no more than four cuttings in each pot. If you root cuttings on the site, then maintain a distance of 10 centimeters between them.
Cover the seedlings with film to create the correct microclimate. Water them sparingly but regularly. When the plant begins to grow and two new leaves appear, this will signal the plant's rooting.

Boxwood at home

For growing at home use varieties of boxwood: evergreen, small-leaved or bolearic, which feel great in small spaces. As a houseplant, boxwood requires careful care, otherwise it will shed its leaves.

The plant must be kept at moderate temperatures, and in winter even in a cool room. During the summer season, water regularly and constantly spray the plant. In winter, reduce the number of waterings. In the warm season, constantly feed the plant, alternating mineral fertilizers with organic matter. As the plant grows, transplant it into a new container. Pruning can be done throughout the year as needed.