Japanese Boxwoods...slow growing...

I know these are "slow growing" but no one has seemed to know how long it takes the plant to reach maturity. Do you have any idea? Or can you recommend products to encourage their growth?

I just love these shrubs and bought several at HD this spring, I know they are working on establishing roots but my gosh they haven't appeared to have grown at all at the surface!

Feel free to post links to other threads about boxwoods from this forum...the question may have already been asked. THANKS!

Have you considered using the Texas native Yaupon holly? They can be trimmed to look like boxwoods but will grow much faster.

That would have been a good solution but I've already bought and planted the boxwoods. =)

My only experience with boxwoods is when I owned my previous home. There were some planted next to the garage. I owned that house for about three years and they were the same size when I sold it as they were when I bought it.

Drats. I was afraid of that!!!! It's worth buying them as large as you can then!!! At least they won't require pruning often! LOL.

Decided against the Yupon Holly when I was first shopping as they were coarse and scratchy, as my Boxwood spot edges along the front sidewalk as a privacey screen (someday!) I needed something soft for the kiddo's.

If you can find some carolina cherry laurel they take pruning nicely and have softer leaves. You won't find them at the big box stores, but some local nurseries sell them.

That sounds pretty! Does it produce a berry of any kind, even unedible?

They do produce berries but if you pruned it regularly you would probably never see them.

My boxwoods have probably grown about 20% since I put them in but a few periodically through the summer have gotten a whole stem turn golden and die. Is there something I can do to help boost their health...was it just the summer drought in Texas or the heat? They are on a regular watering system and only about 2 have suffered in a row of about 15.

Maybe it's a zonal thing (is that a word?). I never grew boxwood when we lived in TX but up here in MD mine are growing like crazy. I tend to let them go a couple of years between haircuts 'cause I don't like the 'green meatball' look, but these things really do well up here.

I bought 6 of the teeny 'Little Gem' (I think) three years ago. They were about as big as baseballs. Now they've already reached maximum growth for the cultivar (about 15" X 2ft) - in 3 years.

I did notice, thought, that a couple have the 'branch turning yellow' thing going on. I'm hoping to remedy with a bunch of compost and a shot of fertilizer. They already get enough water.

Good luck with yours and if you find out more about the yellow branch syndrome please post.

kiwi,

THANKS for posting...ahhhhhhhh...just one more reason to love Maryland! LOL!!!!! I love boxwoods but I'm kinda like you....I can take them on the wild side with more variation in shape or I could have them trimmed but I don't think I'll be so serious as to prune them all the time. I don't like them rounded but squared off into a hedge shape.

I was told they are one of the most slow growing shrubs of all time so you must have fantastic soil and a great green thumb!

I amend the soil heavily at planting so they have a fair chance. Drainage, I've found, is of critical importance, so most of my beds are somewhat raised and I use compost and permatill to help out there. Also, I pay a bit more for my plants by using only local nurseries with excellent reputations. I just don't have much luck with mail order.

Oh I agree on the mail order. I am far to scared to do it....knowing full well the beautiful huge plant in the photo is not the scrawny thing I can expect (based on pot size). And when it comes to form of a plant (something with woody stalks like shrubs or trees) I just have to choose it in person. We are lucky to have several good local nurseries here as well.

I got my boxwoods to grow quite well by using chicken manure--it can be bought in bags at the garden center or feed store. Be sure to water well, too.

What is the difference in Japanese or Wintergreen boxwoods?

Boxwoods grow easily here. They require regular pruning to keep in bounds. Every boxwood has reached its' 10 yr maturity in about 4 yrs! The soil is sandy loam, slightly acid, evenly moist and never fertilized. They are mulched with pine bark. I think kiwigal hit it right on the head when she said it must be a zonal thing.

Tir - The boxwoods here in the Dallas are in the ft. of my home are 20 years old and just now at the 4 foot highth. The sides have been trimed by me only in the last 2 years and nothing more. They are very very very slow in TX from my experience. They will have bursts of growth, the good news is that they are good long lived plants here. I ahd to cut down a few when we moved in here and hated to do it but had to be done.

Thank-you both, but I was posing a new question about boxwoods.

I planted some at my home in San Antonio (since moved) and in the year and a half they were in they doubled in size for me so I was pretty happy with that progress. We just fed them epsom salts and water. :)

Tir_Na_Nog, Interesting that you were abel to determine that you had a magnesium deficiency in the soil. Was it prevelant in the San Antonio area?

epsom salts and water - I use that on my roses and my daylilies, never thought about the shrubs too... I have my natives in that area (I know boxwood is not native but... ) and never give them anything special.. going to have to try it

Snapple,

You give me to much credit. :) But I'll take it. Read that all shrubs can benefit from the epsoms so we did it. It worked great!

someone told me that these shrubs won't grow in a slightly shaded area...is this true???

I have a Green Mountain that is doing fine in partial shade.

not familiar with those.

I purposely planted boxwoods because they are slow growers. It's all in the eye of the beholded obviously.

they might be slower than other shrubs that's true. :)

will boxwoods grow in shade?

Yes, I had a whole row of them, well part shade. I would think of azalea for Houston in the shade.

can some one help i need a good place to buy minature boxwoods thanks

Anyone know if these can be trained tall and thin, in a spiral shape?