How to Do Landscaping With Boxwood

Select a planting site in full sun in cooler climates, typically U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 and below. A boxwood in a warmer climate may grow better when it has afternoon shade.

Loosen the soil to a depth of several inches with a shovel or garden trowel. A boxwood can tolerate a range of soil types and can grow well in poor soil.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the boxwood's root ball and at least as deep. Remove the boxwood from its nursery container and place it in the hole so that the top one-eighth of the root ball is above the level of the soil. Fill the hole with soil and pack it around the plant. Water the boxwood thoroughly after planting.

Water the boxwood with at least 1 inch of water per week. Provide additional water as need to prevent the top inch of soil from drying out. Apply a layer of mulch at least 2 inches thick to help the boxwood retain moisture.

Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer to a boxwood if the lower leaves begin to turn a uniform shade of yellow. The leaves may fall off within three years if the plant is not getting enough nitrogen. Ensure that a high-nitrogen fertilizer does not come into direct contact with the roots.

Prune the boxwood in the early spring while it is still dormant. Remove dead and diseased branches with pruning shears. Remove healthy growth as needed to shape the boxwood into the desired shape.

Fertilize the boxwood once a year with a general fertilizer before the growing season, ensuring that the fertilizer is no closer than 6 inches from the trunk of the tree. Provide another application of fertilizer at the end of the growing season if the soil is very poor.