Give your box hedge the edge!
Box hedge (Buxus spp) is so useful in the garden. They can be used as an edging to a garden bed, a privacy screen, and even a feature plant. There’s a reason why Buxus is so popular; drought tolerant, dense, tolerant of full sun through to shade, it really can thrive in most gardens. With a little bit of maintenance, you can give your Buxus hedge the edge!
Feeding
Box is a hungry plant, feed your hedge with a slow release fertiliser throughout the warmer months (follow the directions on fertiliser for timing).
Buxus likes a slightly alkaline soil (a pH of around 7.5 is ideal), so a sprinkling of lime can help reduce acidity.
Trimming your hedge
Generally it is preferable not to prune over the summer months. Try and keep your pruning schedule to twice a year in Spring and Autumn.
Always trim with clean instruments and only when the plants are dry. After trimming, a spray of copper can help protect the plants from fungal disease.
Watering
Buxus is drought tolerant, and prefers not to be wet all the time as this can make them more susceptible to disease. Let them dry out a bit in between watering. If your Buxus is in a pot, make sure you check the soil moisture often as pots can dry out quickly, especially terracotta.
Mulching
Don’t forget to apply a layer of mulch to help your hedge survive the Summer months. Mulch helps regulate soil temperatures, prevents evaporation and suppresses weeds around the base of the plant. Many mulching options are available such as pine bark, gravel and pea straw.
Discolouration of leaves
If you notice your box hedge has orange discolouration, it is most likely due to cold temperatures in Winter. Generally, with warmer weather and new growth your box should green up again in Spring. If it doesn’t, it may be a symptom of fungal disease. If in doubt, you can bring photos or samples (in a zip lock bag) of the foliage into the nursery for a diagnosis.
