Keep your Better Boxwood® looking crisp and healthy through winter with this quick, foolproof fall ritual.
Fall is the moment to lock in moisture, buffer roots from temperature swings, and set your plants up for a strong spring flush. Two high‑impact tasks, refreshing a mulch ring and giving a deep drink, do 90% of the work with minimal effort.
Timing: Once in early–mid fall (and again before the ground freezes if your area is prone to winter drought).
What You’ll Need:
- 1–2 bags of shredded bark mulch or pine fines (avoid dyed or rock mulch)
- Hose with a breaker nozzle
- Hand rake or cultivator
- Measuring tape or your shoe length (for a quick radius check)
- Optional: Soil moisture meter
Total time: ~15 minutes per plant (5–7 minutes for mulch, 8–10 minutes for deep water)
Minute‑By‑Minute Routine
Minutes 0–2: Quick Inspection & Prep
- Brush aside old leaves, check for weeds, and remove them by hand.
- Look at the trunk flare (where stems widen at the base). Make sure existing mulch isn’t piled against stems.
Minutes 2–7: Build the Perfect Mulch Ring
- Size: 18–24" wide ring (larger for mature plants).
- Depth: 2-3 inches deep, never more.
- Gap: Keep a clean 2–3" donut gap around stems so wood stays dry and disease pressure stays low.
- Texture: Fluff compacted mulch with a hand rake so water can penetrate.
Why it works: Mulch evens soil temps, slows evaporation, reduces freeze‑thaw heaving, and curbs winter weeds so roots stay stable all season.
Minutes 7–15: Deep Water the Root Zone
- Slow soak: Use a breaker nozzle on a trickle, a 5‑gal bucket with a hole, or a soaker bag placed inside the mulch ring.
- How much: 3–5 gallons for young plants; 5–10 gallons for established plants.
- Pace: 8–10 minutes of trickle so water sinks 8–12" deep.
- Soil moisture: Probe the soil with your finger or meter. Moist, not soggy, at knuckle depth is perfect.
Pro tip: If water puddles, pause for 1–2 minutes, then resume at a slower flow to improve infiltration.
Regional Tweaks
- Cold zones: Give one last deep watering 1–3 days before the ground freezes.
- Mild or wet regions: Skip extra watering if you’ve had 1" of rain recently and the soil feels evenly moist.
- Hot or dry climates: Add a second soak about two weeks later if the days stay above 80°F.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
❌ Mulch piled against stems → causes rot.
❌ Too much mulch (more than 3") → sheds water, suffocates roots.
❌ Shallow watering → only wets the surface.
❌ Assuming rain replaces deep watering → it rarely soaks the root zone.
Quick Troubleshooting
- Leaves bronzing or edges crisping? This is likely due to drought stress or wind exposure. Increase soak volume and ensure a complete mulch ring.
- Soil staying soggy for more than 24 hours? Reduce volume, open up the mulch texture, and confirm there’s no low spot trapping water.
- Weed breakthrough? Top up mulch back to 2–3" and hand pull before weeds set seed.
Spend 15 minutes now, enjoy a greener, healthier hedge later. If you’re planting new Better Boxwood this season, pair this routine with our spring care guide and winter protection tips.