Care and Planting Tips

Fall can be one of the best times to plant boxwoods. Cooler temperatures can make the transition easier for newly planted shrubs, while warm soil may continue supporting root growth after the hottest days of summer have passed. The ideal timing depends on your growing conditions, including your USDA hardiness zone and local fall weather. Factors such as lingering heat, rainfall, and how quickly winter typically arrives can all affect the best time to plant. In this zone-by-zone guide, you’ll find general fall planting windows for Zones 5–9, along with practical tips for helping boxwoods establish before winter. Because USDA...

This guide explains how much sun Better Boxwood® needs, from partial shade and dappled sun to full sun exposure. Learn how climate, afternoon heat, heavy shade, and microclimates can affect growth, plus get practical planting tips for choosing the best location for healthy, dense boxwood shrubs.

Avoid bronzing and other winter damage through proper plant placement and preventative care.

When a boxwood starts turning brown, dropping leaves, or looking thin and stressed, it is easy to assume the worst. But not every struggling boxwood has the same problem. Boxwood blight and root rot can both make boxwoods turn brown, thin out, or decline, but they are different problems that require different solutions. Root rot usually starts in wet, poorly drained soil and damages the roots, while boxwood blight starts on leaves and stems and is known for rapid leaf drop and black stem streaks. The more clearly you can read the symptoms, the easier it is to respond appropriately...