American Boxwood Hardwood Fiber Root System



Posted: Monday, October 05, 2009

by Dennis Sons
tn nursery

The American Boxwood Hardwood is amongst the most popular type of shrubs planted today. They even have societies where people research them. The scientific name for them is Buxus Sempervirens, which means European Box. You will notice these a lot in historical, colonial, and contemporary settings and landscapes all over the world. They are popular also due to the ability to prune be pruned into many different shapes and designs. They are Native to western and southern Europe, Asia, Africa, south and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The American Boxwood can withstand a good amount of bad weather such as snow and ice and has a high resistance to the cold, drought, and disease. The snow actually gives it a great outlined look. It requires fairly low maintenance mostly having to do with watering and pruning in the early winter months if you decide to. If you choose not to, the tree can sprout up to ten feet in height and develop a very wide spread. The growth rate is fairly slow paced.

It has attractive features such as the dark green leaves and light green as well. They have a somewhat leathery feel and are round in shape. In the springtime it grows pale yellow-green tiny delicate flowers along with the ability to sprout fruit very tiny in size with a few seeds. The shrub likes to be n the sun as long as the temperatures are not too severe as this can damage the color. You will however want to pick a spot that contains some shade so it can stay cool as well.

The shrub can handle a severe trimming if needed, since it has the ability to grow from those cut stubs. The woods from these plants are very common for their use in woodcarvings, such as chess pieces and violins. They can be grown to produce an exceptional hedging in your yard, which can have a stunning effect.

American Boxwoods are extremely cold hardy, drought tolerant and disease resistant.

Pests and diseases that affect most boxwoods leave the American alone. Stands up to heavy snow and ice, without breaking.

Keep yours trimmed for a 3 foot high, boxed foundation shrub or let it grow larger for a privacy fence.

AAmerican Boxwoods are dense and become even more dense when you trim them. Plant every 3 feet for a tight, low hedge or every 5 feet for a large property divider that will naturally grow to about 10 feet if left unpruned.

" Easy maintenance" is the key for boxwoods of all varieties. Little is required once the boxwood has been established. Light pruning in the early winter is beneficial but not required.

The shrub has a preference of fairly drained soil for the purpose of over watering and developing root disease. To prevent further disease, it is also wise to remove and dispose of any brown, dead appearing branches. To plant you will want to do so in a shallow site. All you must cover is the root ball at the base of the tree or shrub. The best time for rooting is during the late summer through fall. You will start by cutting a five to six inch piece of branch, and remove the leaves from the bottom couple of inches on cut end. You will the put in rooting media to plant the cutting, which is peat and sand. In the fall months, you will notice the leaves start to turn in color just like many other surrounding foliage. The color will result in orange and yellow leaves.

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