Guide to Planting Boxwood Hedges

Preparing to Plant

• Choose a spot in the yard where the boxwoods will have full sun most of the day, with some shade, especially during the blazing hot summer afternoons in the South. Test the soil. Boxwoods prefer a neutral pH level of 6.5 to 7.0, which is neither alkaline nor acidic.

The Planting Bed

• Remove grass, weeds and other unwanted plants. Use a tiller or shovel to loosen the soil. Remove large rocks and break up dirt clods that can interfere with the boxwoods root growth. If needed, raise the pH level -- make the soil less acidic -- by amending the soil with lime or wood ash. To lower the pH level in soil that is too alkaline, mix aluminum sulfate or sulfur into the soil. A cooperative extension service office can help you determine how much of which product to use, based on the soil test results. Add organic matter when you add other amendments to improve drainage and fertility. Smooth the soil with a rake and water the site thoroughly a day or two before planting.

Planting the Boxwoods

• Dig the planting hole twice as wide as the boxwood's original nursery container, but no deeper. If the boxwoods come from the nursery in a ball covered in burlap, look for the slightly darker area around the stems and root tops to determine planting depth. Space the planting holes 6 to 8 inches apart to grow a formal hedge, or 18 to 30 inches apart for a looser, more casual hedge. Place a boxwood in the center of each hole and push enough excavated soil into the hole to hold the plant in place. Water thoroughly to let the soil settle around the roots, then finish filling the hole and water again. Spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around -- but not touching -- the base of the boxwood.

Boxwood Care

• Water the boxwood hedge whenever the soil begins to dry. The plants need watering to a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches to help them develop strong roots. Cut back on watering during the boxwoods' second year in the garden. Apply a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 in late winter or early spring. Keep the fertilizer 6 inches from the stems. If the boxwoods are growing in poor soil, fertilize again in late spring. Water thoroughly to let the fertilizer sink down to the roots.

Pruning

• Shear off new growth in late spring or early summer to shape the hedge and encourage branching. Once the boxwoods have filled out sufficiently, prune away dead or diseased branches every spring. Remove other branches as needed to form the hedge into a pleasing shape.