Planting Boxwood from Bare Roots

Planted as hedges or clipped as topiary, boxwood is a typical bush of French-style gardens. Thanks to small, shiny, evergreen leaves, boxwood provides a reliable medium for creating plant sculptures according to imagination. Growing in any type of soil, in sun or partial shade, it is very slow in growth and can reach up to 2 metres in height. There are 70 species of boxwood, the most commonly used being Buxus sempervirens. Discover how to plant boxwood as bare roots.

boxwood planting — Boxwood are essential in a French-style or contemporary garden

What is bare-root planting?

Bare roots are plants whose roots are supplied without pot, substrate or compost. Advantage of bare-root planting is to encourage better establishment and to be more ecological and economical than planting potted bushes.

Where to plant boxwood as bare roots?

Boxwood can be planted in all regions of France, but if you live in an area affected by box tree moth, a small caterpillar that destroys the bush, it is preferable to choose another alternative to boxwood.

Boxwood prefers sunny exposure but also tolerates shade and partial shade. Avoid blazing sun, which can scorch and yellow foliage. In warmest regions, plant in partial shade. Conversely, north of the Loire, avoid very shaded sites as humidity may encourage fungal diseases.

Boxwood can be planted in any type of soil, even clay, but develops more easily in a neutral to slightly calcareous, rich, well-drained soil. Susceptible to fungi, it does not tolerate water that stagnates in winter.

boxwood bare roots — Boxwood as bare roots

When to plant boxwood?

Bare-root boxwood should be planted in autumn or in late winter, outside periods of frost and snow. Also avoid planting when soil is waterlogged.

Plant bare roots quickly to prevent them drying out. You can also heel them in for a few days before planting.

How to plant boxwood as bare roots?

Technique

Inspect health of bare roots: roots should be supple and healthy.
Prune roots lightly with a pruning shear disinfected with alcohol, if necessary, removing damaged or dried parts
Dig with a spade a trench (for an edging or hedge) or a hole twice the volume of the roots, wider than deep, as boxwood roots are shallow
Loosen compacted soil
Place a 10 cm layer of gravel at bottom of hole to ensure good drainage
Add boxwood fertiliser
Coat bare roots with pralin by dipping them in pralin, a mix of water, soil and cow dung, manure or compost, which prevents roots drying out. You can make pralin yourself or buy ready-to-use pralin.

coating boxwood roots — Coating roots with pralin

Lay bare roots flat at bottom of hole, taking care they do not turn upwards and ensuring not to bury the collar
For an edging, space plants 15 to 20 cm apart. For a hedge, allow 60 cm to 1 m between each plant. For a border, plant 3 to 5 specimens to obtain sufficient mass.

planting boxwood — Planting boxwood for a hedge

Backfill hole with garden soil which you can supplement with a mix of potting compost and turf
Firm soil to remove air pockets, then form a watering basin around plant and water.