Boxwood is one of the most popular ornamental plants to decorate the area. Widely used as a spectacular element of landscape design.
It is a perennial shrub whose leaves remain green all year round.
Boxwood - Present long-lived plant, with proper care for boxwood, he can live 500-600 years! In nature, there are about 30 species of this plant, but in ornamental gardening only one species is a success.
The guest from the southern latitudes is well acclimatized in the climate of the middle zone, but requires care. Especially important periods are autumn and winter.
Boxwood: cutting in the fall, planting and transplanting plants.
Since boxwood blooms in spring, for planting better fall. For sufficient rooting, the plant needs about a month.
Therefore, the landing time must be chosen so so that the roots have time to harden before the first frost. The nature of the soil does not matter much, the only difference is that the shrub grows faster on fertile soil.
Do not plant boxwood on places where groundwater is too high and tend to stagnate. Marshland can ruin a plant.
Planting boxwood in the fall
How to plant boxwood in the fall? The day before landing, the seedling in the pot should be watered especially abundantly, this will allow you to more easily and safely remove the earthen ball with the roots. The hole for planting is dug out wider and deeper than an earthen ball, about 3 times.
The land obtained from the fossa is useful, so it must be carefully folded into a pile. So that the roots of the seedling do not suffer from stagnant moisture, at the bottom of the fossa you need to make a drainage layer. Perlite is perfect for this, a layer of 2-3 cm will be sufficient.
Next, you need to mix the perlite with the excavated earth, in a 1: 1 ratio, and pour into the hole so much that the top of the seedling’s earthy ball reaches the surface of the earth. Placing the seedling in the hole, fill the mixture with empty spaces around. At the same time, to avoid voids around the roots, it is allowed to slightly compact the soil.
After landing the plant must be thoroughly shed. To do this, it is better to use rainwater, if there is only tap water, then it should be allowed to stand for at least 24 hours.
You can learn more about preparing boxwood for wintering here.
Transfer
How to transplant boxwood in the fall? An adult box carries a transplant at any age well, and a favorable time for transplanting is considered from July to November.
Immediately after transplanting boxwood in the fall, the plant needs intensive watering.
To stimulate growth, the box is recommended to replant every 3-4 years until the bush is large enough.
Transplantation of an adult plant is performed in the same way as the initial planting in open ground, that is, together with a clod of earth. After transplantation, it is necessary to make mulching bark of pine.
Reproduction and grafting
Reproduction boxwood cuttings at home in the autumn. Stalk for autumn planting being prepared in early September.
It should be about 7-10 cm long and have 2-3 internodes. Lower leaves are removed, leaving only the upper ones.
Cuttings are planted in a mixture of land and peat, in a 1: 1 ratio. At first, it is useful to cover the seedlings with glass jars or film. As a rule, about 90% of cuttings successfully take root.
About in 3-4 weeks the cuttings will take root, and small leaves will appear on the trunk. It is time to transplant in a place prepared in the garden.
Pruning bushes
Boxwood: pruning in the fall, is it necessary? Pruning plants produced to give a certain shape or just for decoration.
Circumcision is done on average once a month, but it is possible more often. This can be done from May to the end of September, during the period of active growth.
Immediately before winter trimming does not make sense. After shearing, watering should be more abundant so that the plant recovers better.
In boxwood cells contains plant poisonwhose maximum concentration is in the leaves.
In order to avoid poisoning, it is necessary to remember safety rules when circumcising. Wear rubber gloves on your hands and rinse scissors thoroughly after the procedure.
It is allowed to ennoble only bushes, over the age of 2with strong enough roots. It is undesirable to prune in hot weather, this causes burns on the tips of the leaves. Immediately after trimming the bush should be plentifully watered, and so that the water falls on the leaves. In the water, you can add dressing to stimulate growth.
You can also create a hedge from this plant (for more information about the technology of creating a hedge from boxwood, plant formation and cutting can be found here)
Before wintering the plant needs careful watering, but fertilizing after September is highly undesirable.
The box is relatively frost-resistant, but in regions with severe winters, it is better to cover it with spruce fur branches or sacking. Small bushes can be simply covered with wooden boxes. This will allow the plant to successfully overwinter, and in the spring to rejoice the eye with its unusual appearance.
