Basically, the popular, evergreen boxwood is easy to care for. However, its image has suffered greatly in recent years, mainly due to a relatively new fungal disease and a pest imported from Asia. So to keep your Buchs healthy for as long as possible, it needs good care.

The boxwood grows quickly and should therefore be cut regularly

Do you have to water boxwood?

Boxwood has a fairly high water requirement and, depending on the variety, is less tolerant of heat and drought. Therefore, plant the wood preferably in fresh soil to avoid constant watering in summer. In very dry and / or hot phases, regular watering is also important for specimens planted in the garden, as well as for freshly planted box trees. These should be watered for the first three to four weeks after planting. Always water from below, never over the leaves and like to use calcareous tap water.

When and with what should boxwood be fertilized?

The Buchs does best with organic fertilizer, such as a mixture of mature compost, horn shavings (€32.93) and rock dust. This is applied twice a year, once in spring and once in June. Lime fertilization can also be carried out if necessary. On the other hand, you should refrain from using coffee grounds, blue grain etc. because of the unfavorable nutrient composition for boxwood.

What is the best way to prune boxwood?

You should cut boxwood hedges about once or twice a year, while shapes and figures up to five times depending on the speed of growth. Severe pruning is also possible, as boxwood will reliably sprout again - however, this can sometimes take a while as the plant grows very slowly.

When is the best time to cut back?

The pruning season lasts from April to September. Boxwood hedges are best cut back between mid to late March.

Which pests do you have to pay particular attention to in boxwood?

Unfortunately, Buchs is very susceptible to pest infestation. These animals are the most common:

  • Box tree moth: Caterpillars eat entire stocks bare in no time at all, characteristic webs
  • Boxwood leaf flea: Infestation reveals you by being spoon-leaved, larvae suck leaf sap
  • Boxwood spider mite: prefers dry and warm weather, manifested by clear leaf mottles
  • Boxwood gall midge: Infestation is indicated by yellow spots, later by bump-like bulges on the leaves

What diseases are common in boxwood?

In particular, fungal diseases can be dangerous for the box, but viral and bacterial infections are not uncommon.

  • Boxwood dieback (Cylindrocladium buxicola)
  • Boxwood canker (Volutella buxi)
  • Boxwood wilt (Fusarium buxicola)
  • Boxwood rust (Puccinia buxi)

Does the box tree need special winter protection?

With the exception of the more sensitive variegated varieties, boxwood is hardy and does not require any special winter protection. Only specimens cultivated in tubs should be protected from frost so that the root ball does not freeze through:

  • Place the pot on an insulating surface
  • Push the pot against a house wall
  • if possible in the bright semi-shade, not in the blazing sun
  • Wrap the pot with garden fleece or something similar
  • don't forget to water occasionally

tips

Box trees kept in pots should be repotted in fresh substrate about every two to three years. You don't necessarily have to use a new pot for this: If you cut back both the roots and the above-ground parts of the plant, then the old planter is sufficient.

Category:

Vegetable garden