Content
The boxwood is very cut friendly
Boxwood can be kept small
Hardly any other crop is as cut compatible as the boxwood. The two types used for the garden - the common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) and the small-leaved boxwood (Buxus microphylla) - are wonderful for low borders, for small shaped cuts or even for a green roof. The only requirement is that you choose a low-growing variety and cut it back regularly.
Select low-growing boxwood varieties
For Buxus sempervirens alone, about 60 different varieties are known, some with very different growth behavior. If the book is to remain small, preference is given to low-growth variants. These include about these:
But beware of the selection of varieties: Especially the two smallest varieties, 'Suffruticosa' and 'Blue Heinz', are considered to be particularly susceptible to infestation by the boxwood coneser. Variegated varieties such as 'Elegantissima', on the other hand, have a particularly high ornamental value, but are quite sensitive to frost and other winter weather conditions.
Keep boxwood small by cutting
Between April and September, you can cut back on your book regularly, with only the new shoots should cut to a small rest - otherwise there could be unsightly gaps in the book, which grow back very slowly. There should be a rest period of at least four weeks between the individual cutting dates. In autumn and winter, however, is not cut. A frequent pruning results in the boxwood becoming highly branched, very compact and dense. This exterior has a high jewelry value and is quite desirable, for example, for many hedges and shape cuts. However, the compact habit also endangers the plant, making it more susceptible to infestation with pests or fungal diseases.
Tips
As boxwood is attacked by many diseases, you can also fall back on similar plants. Well suited is for example Ilex crenata, Stokes 'or Ilex aquifolium, Heckenzwerg'.