How to Plant Boxwoods
If you want a great new addition to your garden, plant boxwoods! Planting boxwoods remain a popular landscaping element due to their versatility, which allows them to blend into both traditional and contemporary landscapes as edging, screening plants, specimens, and more.
Location
Choosing a proper site helps a newly planted boxwood thrive. Boxwood trees can tolerate full sun, but they prefer partial shade. Boxwoods are susceptible to damage from wind, so they should not be planted on hilltops or in windy areas unless they receive some protection, either from other plants for from structures such as houses or fences.
Soil
Boxwoods need moderately well-drained soil, as soil that is too wet can lead to rotting and eventually the death of the boxwood's roots. Although boxwood trees can survive in highly acidic or highly alkaline soil, they prefer soil that has a pH of 6.5 to 7.0, which is neutral to very slightly acidic. Adding lime to the soil before planting boxwoods can help adjust the pH.
Planting
Plant a boxwood in a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper than the root ball is wide. If possible, find out how deep the boxwood was planted at the nursery and try to match this depth. Boxwoods that are planted significantly deeper than their original planting may suffer from shock and eventually die. Before covering the root ball, spread the boxwood's roots out evenly in the hole.
Care
Water a newly planted boxwood at least once a week during the first month after planting. If the weather is particularly hot and dry, water the boxwood at least once per week to prevent it from drying out entirely. Mulching boxwoods with two to three inches of an organic mulch such as pine straw can also help prevent the tree from drying out and protect the roots from heat damage.
