Care and Planting Tips

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...

After months of cold temperatures and winter dormancy, your Better Boxwoods are ready to shift into active growth, making early spring the ideal time to step in! The care you provide now sets the foundation for a healthy, vibrant season ahead by supporting strong roots, encouraging dense new foliage, and helping your plants recover from winter stress. The good news? It doesn't have to be complicated! A few focused steps can improve airflow, stabilize soil moisture, and prepare the root zone for steady growth. Here is the simple routine that delivers the greatest impact with minimal time and effort. What...

Avoid bronzing and other winter damage through proper plant placement and preventative care.    Boxwoods are prized for their evergreen foliage and cold hardiness, but when not cared for properly, these hard-working shrubs can become susceptible to winter damage. Dry winter winds and fluctuating temperatures take their toll on broadleaf evergreen plants like boxwoods, discoloring that gorgeous foliage and causing dieback in extreme cases. Careful placement in the landscape and attention to plant health during the growing season promote greater resiliency against winter damage. Prevention is key to keeping your Better Boxwood shrubs looking their best through winter and beyond.  Winter Damage in Boxwood Shrubs  Deciduous plants drop their foliage in autumn, avoiding the stress that winter weather brings. Evergreen plants like boxwood retain their leaves year-round, which provides the...

Four years ago, when Erin Schanen of The Impatient Gardener discovered the signs of boxwood blight in her garden, hers became only the fifth confirmed home garden case in the state of Wisconsin. As a longtime boxwood fan whose shrubs lent character and year-round color to her yard, the news was bleak. But Erin has since transformed challenge into opportunity, using new blight-resistant Better Boxwood® varieties to reimagine her landscape. From the undulating pruned boxwood hedges around her vegetable garden to a lush new planting at her property’s edge, Erin’s Better Boxwoods are helping her add brilliant, blight-resistant color and structure back...