Care and Planting Tips

Learn the best way to trim boxwood shrubs in formal and informal gardens.   Boxwood plants are widely used to add structure and definition to gardens. Whether they are sculpted into formal shapes and hedges or allowed to grow into their natural form, boxwood shrubs benefit from annual pruning to encourage healthy growth. Pruning also helps to maintain a cleaner profile and limit plant size. Learn when and how to prune Better Boxwood shrubs to maintain the form of individual plants and keep knot gardens, borders, and boxwood hedges looking their best.   Boxwood Types and Pruning Needs  The pruning...

Boxwood shrubs are low-maintenance plants. They don’t generally require a lot of fertilizer, but the right nutrients at the right time ensure boxwoods grow and develop properly. Good nutrition leads to healthy plants that are better able to withstand environmental stresses and pest pressure. Boxwoods growing in the ground have different nutrient needs than those in pots or planters. Learn when and how to feed or fertilize Better Boxwoods in gardens and containers to maintain strong, resilient plants.  Boxwood Nutrient Needs  Like all plants, boxwoods rely on three primary elements to support their growth: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Additional micronutrients...

Join renowned gardening expert Jim Putnam of HortTube as he takes us step-by-step through a stunning Better Boxwood container planting project! Using the versatile and vigorous Skylight™ variety, Jim showcases how to create a year-round showstopper for patios, porches, or any outdoor space. Why Skylight™ Boxwood? Jim highlights why Skylight™, one of the four Better Boxwood varieties, is perfect for container gardening: Fast Growth & Versatility: Skylight can grow up to 6–8 feet tall but is easy to shape into any size or form, making it ideal for hedges, topiaries, or standalone statement pieces. Blight Resistance: As part of the...

Record-breaking cold has left boxwood plants feeling the burn, but recovery is in sight.  Gardeners across the South experienced record-breaking low temperatures and historic snowfall this past winter, while frigid arctic air swept across much of the country. The cold snap left many shrubs visibly damaged. Even the most proactive gardener could do little to prevent winter damage, which is most pronounced on broadleaf evergreens like boxwood plants. Dead and damaged plant tissues will not recover and need to be removed, but all is not lost. With corrective pruning and proper care, plants can recover from all but the most...