Japanese Box Hedging

Japanese box hedging

Japanese boxwood is a good hedge plant, especially for a low-maintenance shrub with year-round curb appeal. Japanese boxwood plants tend to be more hardy and disease resistant than common boxwood. These plants should only be used for small-medium-height hedges, usually in the range of 18″ to 3 feet tall.

How big do Japanese boxwoods get?

Japanese boxwood shrubs, (B. microphylla var. japonica), also called Littleleaf boxwoods, have fine-textured leaves. Hardy in zones 6 to 9, they typically reach 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide.

How long does it take for a Japanese Boxwood to grow?

How Fast Do Japanese Boxwoods Grow? The Japanese Boxwood growth rate is slow – less than 12 inches per year. Since these boxwood's rate of growth is so slow, it may take a few years for a seedling to grow into a privacy shrub, so it's best to start with a larger plant.

How fast does Japanese box hedge grow?

While Japanese box hedge plants are not the fastest to grow (taking three to five years to mature), they only grow up to one metre tall; therefore, they are best suited to path borders or creating a more formal garden landscape.

How far apart should I plant Japanese box hedge?

If you want to create a Japanese box hedge, spacing is important. As a rule, position plants in a row at a distance of 40cm apart. Unless pruned to keep them smaller, individual plants can grow up to 70cm wide by 1m high in three years.

Do Japanese boxwood stay green in winter?

As popular and lovely as they may be, most boxwood shrubs have a habit of having their shiny green foliage turn to a shade of bronze and even brown, during harsh winter months.

What month should I plant boxwoods?

You can plant Boxwood Shrubs just about any time of the growing season, but most gardeners choose to plant boxwoods in the Early Spring to mid-summer and again in late Summer through early winter.

Are Japanese boxwood low maintenance?

A: We recommend the classy Buxus microphylla, more commonly known as Japanese boxwood. It's an ideal low-maintenance shrub that can be manicured or trimmed occasionally for a more natural look. What we really like about this specimen is that it can take varying degrees of light and is drought-tolerant once established.

Do Japanese boxwood need a lot of water?

Water Boxwood Wisely Water plants slowly and deeply only when needed. In the first year, newly planted boxwood will require regular irrigation – weekly or more during hot, dry weather. Second year plants are still developing a healthy root system and will continue to require water if rainfall is inadequate.

Where is the best place to plant a boxwood?

Boxwoods do best in dappled shade where they get full sun for a portion of the day. Too much full sun, especially in hot climates, will damage their leaves. Used as foundation plantings around the house, boxwoods would be happiest on the north side, and forced to suffer the most direct sun on the south side.

Do boxwoods handle full sun?

The boxwood can be grown as a standalone plant, in groups or as a hedge. Furthermore, the boxwood has been used in containers, topiaries and for bonsai purposes. They can thrive in light shade as well as full sun.

How far from the house should I plant boxwoods?

Boxwoods should be planted 2 to 3 feet away from the house. Dwarf boxwoods should be planted 2 feet from the house while larger boxwoods such as Winter Gem boxwoods should be planted 3 feet from the house. Never plant boxwoods too close to downspouts.

Are box hedges easy to maintain?

Buxus sempervirens is easy to prune – trimming twice a year, once in June and again in autumn, is all the maintenance it needs. And, if you wet the leaves before pruning, the cut ends will heal quicker, helping to prevent disease.

What is the difference between English box and Japanese box?

Box is the classic formal hedge plant and for most parts of Australia, Japanese box is the best variety. It has glossy, green foliage with lime-green new growth and a moderate growth rate. In cold areas, use English box (Buxus sempervirens), which is darker, matt green and slower growing.

Are box hedges deep rooted?

Most of the shrub's roots will be in the top 12 inches of soil, but the roots themselves may extend out several times the width of the shrub. It may help to make downward cuts a foot deep into the soil (about 18 inches from the main stem) one year before you want to transplant them.

Which Box hedge is best?

English Box is above all the most favoured of the box hedging plants as it is the traditional choice in many European and English parterre and formal gardens. It has a slower growth than others and is quite hardy, making it very easy to maintain.

What is the fastest growing Box hedge?

Of all the three species, the Japanese box is the fastest grower and will grow the tallest. English box is also considered a fast-growing hedge plant but not as fast as Japanese box. Even though the Dutch box is a dwarf variety of the English box, it is far slower growing than the other two species.

How can I make my Box hedge grow faster?

Your hedge should be watered regularly so the soil is moist. Depending on the weather, if you soak the soil every 2 days the soil should remain wet and promote growth. Mulch may also be beneficial for promoting growth by providing much-needed nutrients and keeping water in the soil.

What's the difference between boxwood and Japanese boxwood?

The English/American boxwood differs from the Japanese/Korean boxwoods in many ways, but the easiest way to tell is that the tip of the leaf is pointed, while Asian boxwoods have a rounded point with a small indentation at the very tip (like the shape of a rounded "W").

Do I need to cover my boxwoods in winter?

Wrap in burlap or plastic wildlife netting to protect from breakage in a heavy snow. Be sure to water appropriately the rest of the year and when the ground thaws and temps warm up to avoid winter burn. Consider using an antidesiccant for protecting boxwoods from winter damage.