TIPS ON CARING FOR YOUR BUXUS
Box topiary brings structure, maturity and beauty to your garden, an investment that is worth caring for.
Follow these tips and you will be well rewarded with a healthy plant that is less susceptible to pests and diseases.
BUXUS IN CONTAINERS
Buxus needs plenty of room in the pot to take up moisture and nutrition. You will notice how quickly the plants roots fill a container, if you plant Buxus in a small container it will soon look hungry (yellowing leaves) - plant it in a bigger pot!
WATERING
When you water you need to be wetting the entire root ball, not just the top few centimeters of soil. This will encourage good root growth and keep your plant alive in the summer! Save yourself hours of watering by mulching. For containers we use Magic Mulch. At home I believe the Mulch has cut our watering by two thirds. As a guide only (without mulch) in the summer water mature Buxus in large pots every second day small ones every day, in the winter once or twice a week.
FEEDING
Buxus are hungry creatures. Buxus Booster will give them the nourishment they need. It has been specially blended for Tully & Gardener and will have your Buxus deep green and happy in no time. Feed them Buxus Booster in spring and autumn, as a guide for a 40cm wide pot spread one handful around the drip line and water in. Do not let this food come in direct contact with the roots as it may burn them.
SPRAYING
Prevention is better than cure. Buxus’ main pests are Scale and Mealy Bug. They are also susceptible to fungal diseases for example Box Blight. Spray with Conqueror oil (mineral oil) and Yates Copper Oxychloride once a month (NOT in the same bottle) and these problems should not have a chance to take hold of your plant. It is very important to spray right inside the plant; this is where the pests love to be!
If you do have a problem with these pests give them a dose of Super Shield or for an organic alternative use Oceans Organics Garlic Spray and Conqueror Oil.
TRIMMING
To keep your topiary and hedges looking good you need sharp and effective topiary shears. We have the most amazing Topiary Shears from Burgon and Ball. They are light, sharp and easy to use. Trim your Buxus lightly in late November early December. It is important the very hot sun is not beating down on the plant, as it will burn freshly cut leaves. Trim again in early winter, slightly harder this time and you will get a wonderful new flush of growth in the spring.
HEDGES
When planting your Buxus hedge, rule of thumb for distance apart to plant is 30cm apart (stem to stem). We have an economical grade great for hedging at $3.50 per plant.
For a fast growing hedge we love Buxus Green Gem. It has a slightly rounder leaf than sempervirens and is a beautiful glossy mid green. It seems that is less susceptible to the nasty fungal disease, Box Blight. We have these available in 2 hedging grades: Tubes $3.50 each / PB5 $11.90 each.
YOUR TULLY & GARDENER SHOPPING LIST
• Organic Magic Mulch - large $24.90 / small $11.90
• Yates Champ DP Copper Fungicide $18.50
• Yates Conqueror Oil $19.90
• Burgon and Ball Topiary Shears $149.90
• Buxus Green Gem 7cm $3.50 each
• Buxus Green Gem PB5 $3.50 each
• Buxus Sempervirens 7cm $12.90 each
• Oceans Organics Garlic Spray $24.50
• Yates Super Shield $33.90
