Do I have a boxwood problem…seriously?

I remember the first time I spotted boxwood at a local Home Depot.  I couldn’t believe my eyes…I didn’t think we could grow boxwood successfully in zone 4B.  It was one of those “start the car” moments (remember the Ikea commercial)…I couldn’t have loaded up the cart any faster!  This was the beginning of my obsession.

Although I find my garden more than enough (sometimes too much) to manage, it’s small compared to many beautiful private gardens we see on holiday or perusing the internet.  Grand formal or informal gardens often have “rooms” divided by boxwood or yew hedges.  This allows the gardener to feature different plants by colour, species or lighting requirements without jarring the eye.  Openings in the hedges quietly direct you from one “room” to another.

I’m laying out my garden similar to how some people divide the food on their plates…they don’t want one food group touching the other!  I also don’t like everything mixed together.   Since I garden on a city lot and don’t have the luxury of endless space, my garden spaces (rooms) are separated by a boxwood hedge.

Now that my back garden no longer has a lawn, the garden beds are more prominent.  I wanted to define (separate) them with a border…and boxwood was my first choice.  I didn’t think it would happen this year, but Home Depot came through again.  They brought in 100 Green Velvet (healthy) one-gallon boxwood plants for me.  Jamie, my helper, and I have been busy planting them this week…in the heat, thunderstorms and dodging heavy downpours.  It’s a big job, but I know in a few years, they will form a lush hedge.

The photos below show the new boxwood borders for the rose garden (left) and the shady hydrangea garden (right).

The past winter caused more winter kill to the boxwood parterre in the front garden than any previous year.  Was it too dry…I don’t know what caused it.   It will be fine.  I’ve cut out all the dry patches and given it another clip.  With all the rain this week, it’s looking much better.

Green Velvet Boxwood, like most boxwood, grows well in both sun and shade.  This variety is slow growing with a horizontal growth pattern making it a good choice for hedging.  Once established, it’s low maintenance…one good clip in spring and burlap protection in fall; it grows in average soil without fertilizing and doesn’t require a lot of watering—good value with a big payoff.

There are hundreds of boxwood plants in my garden, and I never tire of them.  I do think, though, I have finally run out of space to plant more!

xox Judy❤️

 

 

P.S.  Jamie has agreed to take care of the Cotoneaster hedge.  She has cut out all the dead wood and has become a perfectionist at trimming the hedge just so…it’s looking great under her care.