Box evergreen

When choosing plants for decorating the site, many gardeners prefer permanently green perennials. Annuals, deciduous will serve as a decor for a certain period, after which they will become inconspicuous. On the backyard you can often find a beautiful evergreen boxwood. Due to the variety of varieties of unpretentious shrub fits perfectly into any composition, successfully complements the most sophisticated design solutions.

Box - description and features of the plant

Evergreen boxwood is also called buksus sempervirens. A shrub or a low tree in favorable growth conditions can live up to 600 years. The plant is characterized by slow development, therefore, in addition to the unpaved street planting, it is often grown indoors. It makes an excellent potted bonsai.

The green of boxwood has a pleasant unusual smell. Leaves dense, not large in the form of an ellipse, arranged oppositely. In most species, the crown is green, but there are also variegated plants. Bloom start in March, April. First, yellow-green inflorescences with same-sex flowers appear in the leaf axils. They merge with a ball of foliage of boxwood and exude a stunning aroma.

In late summer, inflorescences are replaced by fruits in the form of three-nest boxes. During ripening, they crack, scattering small black seeds around. Boxwood is a honey plant, but its honey is not used for food. All parts of the plant are poisonous, so it is carefully placed on the site, especially if there is an apiary next to it.

The main quality of boxwood, for which landscape designers highly appreciate it, is the ability to create a spectacular crown and create unimaginable compositions. It can be spherical green sculptures, hedge. Shiny green leaves do not grow dull in the absence of sunlight, pruning branches passes easily and without consequences.

Main species and varieties

The favorite of gardeners has many varieties. Each variety is adapted for life in certain conditions, has its own characteristics. Type of plant is chosen with a specific purpose. For creating green figures, miniature terraces are suitable dwarf boxwood with slow growth. Large, energetic varieties are used for natural landscapes, hedges, borders. All decorative types are united by unpretentiousness, beauty of greenery, simplicity of formation of any crown.

Box evergreen (Buxus sempervirens)

The most common variety for the garden, imported from the Caucasus. The plant is more like a branched tree with a thick lush crown than a shrub. Large dark green leaves strew straight branches of the plant. Their lower side is usually painted in a lighter shade. They rush up, do not lean to the ground. Leaf length - up to 3 cm. A simple evergreen box tolerates little frost if it is constantly under the snow cover.

The root system of the plant is pivotal, abundantly branching. The roots penetrate deep into the soil and spread a few meters wide. From a pure type of boxwood breeders have created many varieties, represented by compact shrubs with very different shape and texture of the leaf.

Box leaf (Buxus microphylla)

A very resistant type of buksus, able to overwinter at a rather low temperature (up to -30 ° C). Homeland compact shrub - Japan, China. In height, the dwarf plant reaches no more than 1.5 meters. Slow growth allows you to shape out of his crown any figures, use in planting with perennials with similar characteristics and features. Annual volume increase - 5 cm.

Small-leaved boxwood grows neatly even without pruning. This quality is especially appreciated by landscape designers. The length of small leaves of an adult plant - 2 cm, width - 1.5 cm. The ornamental plant feels great in open ground and in containers. Often, Chinese varieties are used to delimit the territory, effective design of flower beds and flower beds.

Colchian or Caucasian Box (Buxus colchica)

Because of the very slow renewal of the plant is listed in the Red Book. Great interest in it is shown because of the special structure of wood. Colchis boxwood is found in nature in Georgia, Turkey, Asia. Even several decades after planting, its leaves remain in the same form, they do not lose their decorative effect. Inflorescences appear along the entire length of the stem.

Pruning crown carried out with extreme caution. Greens are growing very slowly. On building a couple of centimeters of green mass may take several years. Caucasian box neatly trimmed in spring or summer, trying not to bare the upper branches.

The first bloom of the Caucasian box comes no earlier than 20 years after landing in the ground.

Box Balearic (Buxus balearica)

This variety has large leaves. They can reach a length of 5 cm. The homeland of the bush is Spain, the Balearic Islands. Naturally grows in Portugal, Morocco, on the Crimean peninsula. Compared with other species, it grows quickly, but only in warm regions, where the temperature in the cold season does not fall below 18 ° C.

Caring for the Balearic variety is carried out simply, as for all boxwood. It is used to create high hedges and miniature bonsai. In room conditions the bush is more exacting to the soil and watering.

Planting in open ground

The box is absolutely not exacting to the soil, perfectly transfers a shadow and summer heat. Even inexperienced gardeners will be able to take care of him adequately. Plants freely tolerate the influence of adverse factors of large cities (air pollution, smoke). Usually planting seedlings in the country in the ground carried out in spring or autumn. Purchased material must be well prepared. The ideal option is to transfer the plant to the ground after moistening the root for 12 hours. If the shrub is purchased in a container and is in the ground, then before taking out the soil should be well moistened and left for 24 hours. This will minimize the likelihood of damage to the roots.

What time to plant

Evergreen plant has a very early flowering. The first flowers begin to form in mid-March. To allow the plant to get stronger, it is mainly practiced autumn planting boxwood in the ground. You can plant seedlings from September to the end of October. The main thing is to do it a month before the onset of frost. This time is enough for the full development of the root system in a new place. Thus, the shrub will acquire frost resistance, will calmly transfer the winter.

In the regions with early cooling, a soil landing of boxwood is made in spring. If you plant it in the ground in the fall, he simply does not have time to take root and will die. Summer disembarkation is possible, but under the condition of constant wetting and spraying, otherwise the buksus will suspend the already slow growth.

How to plant: site selection and soil preparation

Decorative and development of boxwood are more dependent on proper fit. When transferring a plant to the ground, it is necessary to take into account the requirements for the soil of each species, options for proximity to other crops, and the level of illumination. Long-lived shrub can grow without a transplant for several centuries, so it is very important to choose the right place and soil for it.

The thermophilic buksus does not tolerate direct sunlight. It is better to choose the area partially shaded, especially during the period when the sun will be at the zenith. Bright radiation can injure the leaves, which will negatively affect the decorativeness of the bush.

The box grows well in the shade of high fences, walls of various buildings. The landing site should be selected taking into account the need for maximum shade in the winter. Bright sun at negative air temperatures is a great danger to the health of the plant.

Soil bushy crops are not demanding. They are satisfied with the average saturation of nutrients. But in order to accelerate the development and growth of boxwood, some conditions should still be observed:

• Perennials do not tolerate stagnant moisture, which is inevitable in heavy soils. This option must be deleted. Preference should be loamy, sandy soil.
• Acidity should be weak or neutral. In order to minimize this figure, when landing in the ground, mature compost, slaked lime is placed in each well.
• Young boxwood will develop better and faster in drained soil. It is possible to improve the air permeability indicators artificially with the help of perlite. Small rubble, broken bricks.
• Earth should not be excessively wet. It is necessary to exclude the option of landing on the site with the surface passage of groundwater.

Rules for plant care in the open field

To get an excellent result when growing boxwood on your site, you must follow certain rules of care. None of the procedures will not cause problems to the gardener. The plant needs increased attention only during the onset of cold weather - in autumn and winter. Basic care involves standard manipulations, which differ little from maintaining the growth of other perennials.

Box trimming - crown formation

Pruned branches and leaves only in adult plants that have reached the age of two. This time is enough for the bush to take root and get stronger. Early pruning is allowed for undersized varieties. Border of dwarf bushes can be trimmed a couple of weeks after disembarkation, but not more than 5 cm at a time.

You can start the first haircut with the onset of stable heat. A small correction of excess growth will suffice so that the plant does not lose its shape. Shaped, heavily runted branches are cut to a stiff base. A month later, the procedure is repeated.

Spring pruning is best done as early as possible before active growth begins. Begin processing from the top of the box, gradually moving down. Small branches are cut in a horseback way, large before the formation of buds, so that they could not grow shoots inside the bush, and spoil the appearance of the crown. For the formation of individual sections of the plant using a different tool:

• Pruner. Used for thinning overgrown areas. Support and working blade bent arc. Special adaptation pruned extra twigs of hedges, borders.
• Battery brush cutter. Lightweight simple subject used for linear trimming. The crown can be used to give only the appearance of a rectangle.
• Shoot scissors. They remove the soft, not yet had time to stiffen the twigs. Also used for trimming shape contours.
• Battery device for solid branches. The product consists of several pairs of scissors, which are driven by the charge of a powerful battery.
• Brush cutters on long handles. The elongated shape of the handles and short blades allow trimming inside the bush.

Watering and feeding

Any type of boxwood loves water. It is necessary to water plants once a week with periodic spraying of a green crown. Additional surface moisture is especially necessary for young bushes.

The first watering is carried out immediately after planting. The subsequent procedure is carried out after 7 days, if during this time there has not been abundant precipitation in the form of rain. For a sapling of 1 meter will be enough 10 liters of water. So that the water does not spread, but falls exactly to the roots of the plant, its trunk is surrounded by a ring of earthen mound.

In severe droughts, they increase the volume of water, and do not increase the frequency of approaches. The long roots of boxwood can easily reach the nutrient lower layers of the soil. Frequent watering will lead to diseases of the soil. It is better to moisturize bushes early in the morning or after sunset.

To ensure a healthy and fast growth of the decorative buksus, it must be fertilized and fed. The first batch of nutrients is placed in the ground one month after disembarkation. Already a well-established seedling will grow and develop immunity to disease. In the future, fertilizers are applied 2-3 times per season. Nitrogenous mixtures are used to build up green mass, and watered with a solution of phosphorus and potassium before hibernation.

Moisture-loving box does not tolerate stagnant fluids. In rainy weather it is not necessary to water it and spray it. Natural soil moisture will suffice.

Autumn care

The bulk of the work on the care of relatively unpretentious shrubs falls on the autumn time. The quality of the events will determine the ability of the plant to endure the cold and quickly recover from wintering.

It is necessary to care for spherical bushes in protective clothing, avoiding contact with poisonous juice on the skin. The main autumn procedures to help calm the winter of buksus:

1. Watering. It requires abundant hydration, which will allow to saturate all the cells of the plant with moisture. Under adverse conditions (no snow and strong wind) this will help the plant survive.
2. Top dressing. The final dressing occurs no later than mid-September. If you fertilize boxwood later, instead of immersion in a state of rest, he will let the young shoots.
3. Crop. Autumn haircut stimulates the growth of young shoots in the spring. Dry, damaged branches are removed completely, the rest are shorter by 2 cm.
4. Mulching. Provides optimal heat transfer in the root system. Mulch will save the shrub from freezing through the harsh winter and flooding in the spring.
5. Protection from diseases, pests. Remove and burn affected branches and leaves. The trunk of tall bush trees is whitened, the crown is treated with insecticides.

Preparing for the winter

The box easily transfers small frosts, lowering of temperature to - 10 ° C. A large amount of snow will save the root system from freezing. In order to prevent the sudden awakening of the shoots, the plant is carefully covered. For tall bushes, support is established and a garter is made using wire or rope. So the long branches of the buksus will not break off from the weight of the snow.

To cover the material does not squeeze the plant, make a special frame for it. Above the top of the bush a wire is placed crosswise, the resulting grid is covered with material, fixed at the bottom with any weight.

Matter for winding boxwood is better to choose a dark color, because white can pass light. The fabric should be strong, but light, so as not to put pressure on the plant. For shelter for the winter using the following options:

• Lapnik. Several thorny branches bind around the plant in the form of a house. An air gap is created between the shrubs and the needles, which allows creating ideal wintering conditions and protecting the branches from sunburn.
• Sackcloth. Wrap shrub loosely, leaving airspace. If proper attention is not paid to the density of the winding, rot and mold will quickly form under the raw base.
• Agrofibre. Non-woven material is breathable. Suitable as a shelter for mild winters. It can not cope with frosts, but it protects from the sun well.

Transfer

Virtually all types of boxwood are transplanted in the fall, except for leafy plants. For them, the best division time is spring. Perennial tolerates transplant at any age. The bush is digged along the outer border of the compost, its upper part is bound and pulled out with minimal damage.

The first step is preparing the wells. Dig pits, depth - 50 cm, diameter - 40 cm. Fill them up to half with a mixture of fertile soil with the addition of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, urea. Leave in this condition for several days.

In the new hole, the seedling is placed superficially. The root neck should rise at least 3 cm above the ground. The plant is covered with soil, tamped and watered abundantly. In order for the boxboard to adapt more quickly to the new place, rejuvenating pruning is carried out.

Breeding methods

To increase the number of shrubs on the site in several ways. The vegetative method is used more often, but if desired, seedlings can be grown from seeds. Smooth hedges make a way of bending the branches to the ground. Each type of breeding has its own characteristics.

Seeds

Like all ornamental crops, the bush blooms and bears fruit. Seeds ripen in boxes all summer, become suitable for planting only in the fall or early winter, when the air becomes quite cool.

In appearance, boxwood seeds resemble apple seed. The large size makes it easy to choose healthy specimens for breeding new seedlings. They have excellent germination. Even when accidentally falling into the soil, they easily germinate on their own. The disadvantages of seed reproduction can be attributed to the long term development of the seedling. It will take at least 3 years to get a full-fledged plant.

Cuttings

A more successful way of breeding boxwood. Guaranteed rooted all involved cuttings in compliance with certain rules. For reproduction using planting material collected in the summer, autumn, young or already stiff shoots. Suitable annual, well ripened cuttings 10-15 cm.

For grafting use side, apical shoots. Cut or pinch off part of the twigs, remove the lower leaves and transfer to the ground. This may be a special container or open ground. Важно, чтобы место было затемненным и непродуваемым ветрами.

Выбранные растения углубляют в землю на 3 см, и обильно поливают. Water should pass into the soil at the length of the process, taking into account the formed roots. It will be possible to move the box to a permanent place at least in a year.

Layering

The scheme of reproduction by layering has no differences from other cultures. Long branches tilt and drip. Then they are fertilized and watered abundantly. When they form new roots, you can dig out and plant. Most often, this method is used to create green borders and hedges.

If you place the young layers in the spring in a special trench, in the fall they will already have their own roots. You can speed up the process with the help of chemicals to stimulate growth and facilitate rooting.

Plant Diseases and Pests

Unpretentious boxwood is often attacked by pests. Despite the content of poison in its trunk and leaves, many insects are not against eating its juice, which leads to diseases and destruction of the shrub. Any change in the appearance of the shrub should cause concern to the owners of the site. Most of the lesions seen in time can be easily eliminated. Buxus can suffer from the following diseases and pests:

1. Boxwood gall midge. The main sign of the appearance of such an insect is yellow bulging spots on the sheets. Small larvae quickly spread throughout the crown. Stop the multiplication of the pest by treating the plant with special preparations. For the prevention of shrubs should be trimmed more often.
2. Boxwood flea. Insects lay larvae on sheets and cover them with sticky secretions. Affected greenness arches and tarnishes. Methods of struggle - removal of a part of the diseased crown, treatment with mineral oils.
3. Spider mite Envelops the kidneys with pubescent oblong formations, especially in arid weather. Damaged parts are cut, the entire crown is sprayed with a special agent.
4. Boxwood firing. Small moth-like butterflies often lay larvae on boxwood. Their caterpillars cover all the leaves, which leads to a rapid drying of the shrub. The process of plant withering is accompanied by a characteristic odor. To combat the pest biological insecticides are treated with the trunk, crown and earth around the shrub.
5. Fungal diseases. The appearance of disease shows rust, sporangia on the leaves. The only way to fight stains is to completely remove the affected shoots.

Features care plants in tubs

In summer, potted plants require daily watering, as the ground dries out very quickly. Starting from mid-spring, it is necessary to organize regular dressings with liquid formulations combined with soil moistening. If the leaves begin to turn red, nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be added to the tub.

With the onset of cold weather, a container with boxwood can be brought into a cool room or left in the most natural environment. If the shrub will winter in the street, it should be placed in a larger container, fill the empty space with crushed bark. This will help insulate the roots, retain moisture.

Examples and methods of use in landscape design

The box has more than 100 varieties. Each variety has its own decorative features and all sorts of characteristics. Plants require certain growing conditions, can be used to create various elements of landscape design.

The average life span of a shrub is 500 years, the annual crown growth is 15 cm. This allows branches and foliage to hold the necessary shape for a long time without disturbing the edges of the figure. The high density of the crown allows you to get perfectly smooth edges after shearing. There are several ways to use the plant to decorate a plot:

• Hedge. Form a simple element of the decor by the method of linear upset and simultaneous trimming of all bushes with one comb.
• Geometric figures. For haircuts use special frames. With the help of an iron grid form a green sphere, a cube, a trapezoid, an ellipse.
• Difficult shapes. The required form of boxwood or a group of plants attached with metal rods. In this way, create amazing figures of man, animals, various objects.

Conclusion

Even an aspiring gardener can grow an evergreen shrub on his plot. Appropriate home foliage haircut will help to give it the necessary shape that will last a long time. In order for the boxwood thickets to decorate the site, it is necessary to apply very little effort.