Hi ! So i get an email from my wonderful neighbor saying that google is getting rid of a bunch of boxwoods this sunday morning. Madeleine like me is thrifty (cheap) so we went over and managed to gather as many as we could and bring them home. Fate would have it that a very friendly cabbie let us load up his boot and he didn't seem too worried about the dirt, which is a rarity!
Here they are, a little bedraggled but who isn't after the winter. The main thing is to get them in the ground and cozy until true spring. Its going to drop again monday so don't want them to get frost damage.
A good deep hole for now and then a good covering of dirt to keep them cozy. Box wood don't actually like to be too deep as they have shallow roots so maybe next weekend i will uncover a little bit, if the weather does change. Then they will get a good feed and a prune before they start spring growth. Should really have been pruned at the end of summer/beginning of winter but they are pretty hardy and slow growing so can put up with a good deal. Nice boot shot i thought as well...
Recommended Monitoring for Boxwood
Late Winter
Remove leaves from center of plants where they tend to collect.
Prune out winter damaged branches. Thin crowns as necessary. Sample for Phytophthora root disease and soil nutrient levels and pH if decline symptoms are evident. Apply horticultural oil to suppress psyllids and mites.
Early Spring
Fertilize and amend pH based on soil test reports. Apply fungicide soil drench if Phytophthora root rot is present. Monitor for psyllids, mites and leafminers. Treat as needed. Excavate mulch from root collars and add finely ground pine bark mulch to root zone as needed.
Mid Spring
Monitor for psyllids, mites and leafminers. Treat as needed. Monitor irrigation and soil moisture levels to prevent water stress and suppress root disease.
Early Summer
Monitor for spider mites and treat as needed. Monitor irrigation and soil moisture levels to prevent water stress and suppress root disease. Sample for nematodes if this pest is suspected.
Mid Summer
Re-apply fungicide drench if Phytophthora root rot is present. Monitor for spider mites and treat as needed. Monitor irrigation and soil moisture levels to prevent water stress and suppress root disease.
Remove leaves from center of plants where they tend to collect.
Prune out winter damaged branches. Thin crowns as necessary. Sample for Phytophthora root disease and soil nutrient levels and pH if decline symptoms are evident. Apply horticultural oil to suppress psyllids and mites.
Early Spring
Fertilize and amend pH based on soil test reports. Apply fungicide soil drench if Phytophthora root rot is present. Monitor for psyllids, mites and leafminers. Treat as needed. Excavate mulch from root collars and add finely ground pine bark mulch to root zone as needed.
Mid Spring
Monitor for psyllids, mites and leafminers. Treat as needed. Monitor irrigation and soil moisture levels to prevent water stress and suppress root disease.
Early Summer
Monitor for spider mites and treat as needed. Monitor irrigation and soil moisture levels to prevent water stress and suppress root disease. Sample for nematodes if this pest is suspected.
Mid Summer
Re-apply fungicide drench if Phytophthora root rot is present. Monitor for spider mites and treat as needed. Monitor irrigation and soil moisture levels to prevent water stress and suppress root disease.
Late Summer
Monitor for spider mites and treat as needed. Monitor irrigation and soil
moisture levels to prevent water stress and suppress root disease.
Fall
Apply finely ground pine bark mulch to root system as needed. Fertilize and adjust pH as specified in soil test report. Erect burlap barriers to protect against desiccation on exposed sites. Apply irrigation as necessary to ensure adequate soil moisture before soil freezes in order to minimize winter injury. Apply systemic insecticide if desired to reduce the level of sucking insects and leafminers next year.
Fall
Apply finely ground pine bark mulch to root system as needed. Fertilize and adjust pH as specified in soil test report. Erect burlap barriers to protect against desiccation on exposed sites. Apply irrigation as necessary to ensure adequate soil moisture before soil freezes in order to minimize winter injury. Apply systemic insecticide if desired to reduce the level of sucking insects and leafminers next year.
Heres a handy PDF of this info if you so need it..
Yes an action shot. Photo credit my amazing downstairs neighbor Madeleine. I take any opportunity to wear plaid and get muddy.
In they go. Heres a little more basic info on boxwood . Not the bad edging on the little path to the right of the photo.
So they look a little brown and old but finger crossed i can get them back to life. I finished up the brick edging as well on the little path to nowhere, and also got to see all the great bulbs coming up, well the ones i didn't chop in half. Im not the most cautious digger! I think once they are cleaned up a little more and come to life we should be good. The 2 little guys on the left of the photo were planted last spring (i think) and are doing really well so hope fully this will look great. Stay tuned....
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