Boxwoods are a common evergreen shrub found outside homes and businesses across the country. Spacing boxwoods appropriately is crucial to their growth potential. These beautiful hedges add a polished touch to any landscape.
What Are Boxwoods?
Boxwood plants are planted primarily for privacy or as decorative bushes. These year-round evergreens provide privacy when grown to full mature height. American Boxwood can grow up to five feet tall and four feet wide. Boxwoods are dense, so they make a great hedge.
You may see boxwoods outside businesses as well as homes. Boxwood hedges can be shaped and pruned to give any building a smooth and sophisticated look.
How Do You Take Care of Boxwoods?
Boxwoods are low-maintenance evergreen shrubs that take about two years to reach maturity. Boxwood plants need light and air equally on all sides to be healthy. Well-draining soil is also a necessity for boxwoods. These evergreens need plenty of water. However, the plant is susceptible to fungal disease when left in oversaturated soil.
Boxwoods are pretty adaptable to hot or cold weather. Boxwoods in hot climates need a well-shaded area and more water than during cold or mild weather. Water deeply for water to reach the entire root.
Boxwoods can survive in climates that are not too cold. Boxwoods can’t thrive in areas where temperatures fall below -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Your shrub may look dead or dying during the winter, but after some thorough pruning, your boxwood will spring back to life.
Boxwood shrubs need pruning and care each year. They grow well, so you’ll need to trim them to the desired shape and height.
How Far Apart Should You Space Boxwoods?
Spacing boxwoods depends on how you plan to use your boxwood shrub. Consider its mature size to plan proper spacing. The plant needs sufficient light, air, and well-draining soil. Boxwoods planted too close together or too close to a wall may not get adequate resources. It could also open up the shrub to fungal disease.
Measure the boxwood plants center to center when planning enough space for planting.
Boxwood shrubs need about two years to be an established mature evergreen. Planting your boxwoods about two to three feet apart will need time to fill in and create a hedge.
Boxwood plants need to be two to three feet from any building wall. This space will ensure they have plenty of light and air on all sides.
Plant boxwoods away from any drainage system. Being by a drainage system in which the plant is constantly being watered or is sitting in waterlogged soil can cause the plant to rot.
Privacy is one reason someone might plant a row of boxwoods at their house. This evergreen shrub makes a phenomenal hedge. The shrubs can grow up to five feet tall and four feet wide and provide sufficient privacy. Plant boxwoods two to three feet apart for best, long-term results.
Boxwoods can take up to two years to reach their full height and become established. After this time boxwood needs regular pruning to maintain the hedges size and appearance. However, you can plant them closer together if you need a high hedge in a hurry. Planting the boxwoods about one to two feet from center to center will cause the shrubs to compete for resources. The shrubs will sprout up quickly.
Conclusion
Planting boxwood shrubs one to three feet apart, measuring center to center, is a safe bet. Boxwood shrubs make fantastic evergreen hedges. These hedges can provide privacy as well as look good. Plant boxwoods one to two feet apart for a full hedge quickly.
Plant boxwood shrubs two to three feet apart, measuring center to center for an established plant after two years. Boxwood shrubs are an excellent addition to your home or business.