Common Boxwood - Knowledgebase Question

bethel park, Pe
Avatar for thiagojacque
Question by thiagojacque
April 9, 2010
Just purchased 16 common boxwoods for a hedge I want to line our front yard. They are very small now (1ft?). I plan to buy more when more come in. How far do I put these from the street(pavement) and how far apart from each other to grow a hedge 3.5-4 ft high? We would like them to come very close to the street so there is no grass to cut in between. I want to do this right since it is an investment.


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Answer from NGA
April 9, 2010
Photo by JonnaSudenius
Common boxwood is Buxus sempervirens and the species grows 15-20 feet high and wide at maturity. These are exceptional for privacy hedges but you may have trouble keeping them at three and a half to four feet in height and width. 'Suffruiticosa' is a cultivar that's compact, slow growing, and reaches 3-4 feet tall and wide. This might be a better selection for your purpose. If you decide on this more compact boxwood, plant them on 18-20 inch centers to allow your boxwoods to grow closely together to form a dense hedge. There are other hybrids that you might consider, as well: 'Glencoe' (Chicagoland Green)- Maintains good color in winter, 2-3 feet tall.
'Green Gem' - Maintains good color in winter, mounded habit; 2 feet tall.
'Green Mountain' -Foliage turns bronze in winter, habit is more upright than other hybrids. 'Green Mound' - Mounded habit, 3 feet tall. 'Green Velvet' - Rounded habit, 4 feet tall.

As for spacing, place your plants half as far away from one another as the mature width listed on the plant tag and they will fill in nicely. Likewise for spacing from the street. Since they will be clipped, you can plant them slightly less than their full mature width away from the street. Best wishes with your new boxwoods.

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