Boxwoods are wonderful broadleaf evergreen shade shrubs that define the garden space.
No, they are not the sexy, showy plants that get a lot of attention.
But they provide the structure, and dare I say the formality, of a garden throughout the year.
In winter when the showy plants are gone, this evergreen has a chance to stand out.
Boxwoods prefer partial shade but adapt to full shade or full sun with sufficient watering.
They like being mulched because their roots grow close to the surface.
It is best not to disturb the earth around the boxwood once the shrub is established for the same reason.
They make excellent backgrounds for brightly colored plants that show up well against the even, dark green surface of the boxwood and they are the perfect backdrop for the drama of the garden.
These shrubs are made for the "Edward Scissorhands" in you, especially if you like geometric shapes or topiaries.
I myself prefer having a well-formed shrub that looks natural and that can easily be maintained.
My husband Dan takes care of that part of our garden as he finds his own garden therapy in pruning and shaping various shrubs and trees.
My first experience with boxwoods was at our previous home.
We purchased Korean boxwoods and used them as foundation plants at the front of the house.
Compared to the awful yews that had been there, I thought this was a tremendous improvement.
The leaves were glossy, almost waxy looking.
They grew quickly but could be trimmed easily.
Then in late February one year, we had a couple of warm days (high 40's - really a heat wave for the Chicago area).
And those glossy leaves turned a yellow brown.
I lost probably 1/3 of each bush - all facing the street side.
What a disappointment.
When we moved to the house that we are in currently, I wanted boxwoods again, but didn't want the same problem.
After consulting with a landscape architect, we installed three kinds of boxwood varieties: 'Glencoe', 'Green Velvet', 'Wintergreen'.
Not mixed together of course, but one variety per location in the garden.
It is good to get plant variety - even though admittedly from the street you would be hard pressed to distinguish what varieties they were.
A disease or insect might affect one more than the other.
And it helps with the bio diversity in your yard.
Just think of all the green ash we are losing to the green ash borer or all the elms to Dutch Elm disease.
'Glencoe' boxwood is a variety that was cultivated at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe and has more yellow green leaves.
'Green Velvet' boxwood is a variety developed in Canada and has a slightly glossier leaf.
'Wintergreen' boxwood is similar but has a more blue green hue to the leaves.
All cultivars are hardy in our Chicago climate and I have not experienced any winter burn such as we suffered at our first house - and that is at least 13 years now.
If you are starting a garden or need an overhaul, I would highly recommend the boxwood - a high performing evergreen shade shrub.
No, they are not the sexy, showy plants that get a lot of attention.
But they provide the structure, and dare I say the formality, of a garden throughout the year.
In winter when the showy plants are gone, this evergreen has a chance to stand out.
Boxwoods prefer partial shade but adapt to full shade or full sun with sufficient watering.
They like being mulched because their roots grow close to the surface.
It is best not to disturb the earth around the boxwood once the shrub is established for the same reason.
They make excellent backgrounds for brightly colored plants that show up well against the even, dark green surface of the boxwood and they are the perfect backdrop for the drama of the garden.
These shrubs are made for the "Edward Scissorhands" in you, especially if you like geometric shapes or topiaries.
I myself prefer having a well-formed shrub that looks natural and that can easily be maintained.
My husband Dan takes care of that part of our garden as he finds his own garden therapy in pruning and shaping various shrubs and trees.
My first experience with boxwoods was at our previous home.
We purchased Korean boxwoods and used them as foundation plants at the front of the house.
Compared to the awful yews that had been there, I thought this was a tremendous improvement.
The leaves were glossy, almost waxy looking.
They grew quickly but could be trimmed easily.
Then in late February one year, we had a couple of warm days (high 40's - really a heat wave for the Chicago area).
And those glossy leaves turned a yellow brown.
I lost probably 1/3 of each bush - all facing the street side.
What a disappointment.
When we moved to the house that we are in currently, I wanted boxwoods again, but didn't want the same problem.
After consulting with a landscape architect, we installed three kinds of boxwood varieties: 'Glencoe', 'Green Velvet', 'Wintergreen'.
Not mixed together of course, but one variety per location in the garden.
It is good to get plant variety - even though admittedly from the street you would be hard pressed to distinguish what varieties they were.
A disease or insect might affect one more than the other.
And it helps with the bio diversity in your yard.
Just think of all the green ash we are losing to the green ash borer or all the elms to Dutch Elm disease.
'Glencoe' boxwood is a variety that was cultivated at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe and has more yellow green leaves.
'Green Velvet' boxwood is a variety developed in Canada and has a slightly glossier leaf.
'Wintergreen' boxwood is similar but has a more blue green hue to the leaves.
All cultivars are hardy in our Chicago climate and I have not experienced any winter burn such as we suffered at our first house - and that is at least 13 years now.
If you are starting a garden or need an overhaul, I would highly recommend the boxwood - a high performing evergreen shade shrub.
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