- Why is sufficient distance so important?
- Planting distance depends on size and variety
- The optimal planting distance for a dense hedge
Boxwood is the perfect plant for dense hedges and edgings: the evergreen wood is easy to care for and extremely easy on pruning. In addition, it can not only be kept in shape by cutting, but also limited in height. On the other hand, Buchs is very susceptible to fungal and pest infestation, although the risk of infection can be reduced by maintaining the correct planting distance.
If the boxwood is to be laid out as a hedge, the plants are placed a little more densely
Why is sufficient distance so important?
In recent years, boxwood, otherwise indispensable in gardens for centuries, has lost a great deal of its popularity. Diseases and pests, above all the shoot dieback caused by the fungus Cylindrocladium buxicola and the small butterfly box tree moth imported from East Asia, severely affect the evergreen wood and ensure that the classic box tree hedge is becoming increasingly rare. An infestation cannot always be maintained, but is at least less likely with suitable care measures and optimal site conditions. The right planting distance is essential so that the individual plants get enough light and air and do not have to compete with each other for both water and nutrients.
Planting distance depends on size and variety
The correct planting distance depends above all on the size of the boxwood plants and the selected variety. As a rule of thumb, plants that are about ten centimeters high can be placed closer together than larger specimens. Varieties that grow stronger also generally need more space than slow-growing plants, and large solitary plants need more space than hedge plants.
The optimal planting distance for a dense hedge
For a dense boxwood hedge or edging, you should choose the following distances:
- small plants about 10 - 15 centimeters high: six to eight plants per meter
- larger plants: four to six plants per meter
The distance is then, depending on the height of the plants, between 15 and 30 centimeters. Solitaires, on the other hand, need significantly more space, especially when it comes to elaborately cut topiaries. Not only do they need enough space for health reasons, but also for visual reasons: the attractive figures only really come into their own when they are in a suitable location.
tips
Although small plants are cheaper to buy, they need several years to achieve an attractive result due to their slow growth. To save money, you can grow the plants you need yourself. However, you need a lot of patience for this.