Box Hedging (Buxus sempervirens)

Box Hedging Plants Description

Box hedging (Buxus sempervirens) is a popular choice among gardeners for its many advantages. This native species is shade-tolerant and adapts well to most soil types, except for those that are overly wet or exposed to strong winds. Favoured for its dense, leafy appearance, Box hedging is a classic, versatile option that is easy to maintain. Although slow-growing, it can be easily trimmed and shaped to suit your garden's design. When grown to height, it creates a stunning green privacy screen, a feature that is becoming increasingly popular in modern gardens.

Due to its versatility and elegant appearance, Box hedging is universally appealing in both urban and large formal gardens. It is an excellent choice for creating hedge borders, partitions, green walls, mazes, pathways, and intricate parterre knotwork gardens. Buxus sempervirens is one of our favorite hedging species, offering numerous possibilities for shaping and use, which is why it consistently ranks among our top ten best-selling hedge plants.

The dense, small, round, dark evergreen leaves of Buxus sempervirens grow at an average rate of approximately 10-15 cm per year. For best results, trim your Box hedge in late spring using hand garden shears, keeping the blade parallel to the hedge surface. For a lower-growing option, consider Dwarf Box Hedging (Buxus sempervirens Suffruticosa), or explore our selection of low-growing hedging plants for more inspiration.

Box Topiary

Box hedging is also highly sought after for topiary due to its specific characteristics, allowing for a wide range of shapes limited only by imagination. Timeless topiary classics include Box Balls, Cubes, and Spirals. You can view our full range of topiary shapes on our website.

With a variety of sizes and types of Box hedging plants available, we are confident you will find exactly what you need. Explore our range of evergreen hedge plants for year-round interest.

Box Hedging Problems?

While Box hedging is incredibly popular, it can face certain challenges. However, there is no need to panic as many issues with Buxus sempervirens are rarely severe. Our experts are available to provide more information and guidance.

Should I Be Worried About Box Hedge Blight?

Box blight is a fungal disease that can affect Box hedging. If you have experienced box blight before, it might be worth considering an alternative species, as the disease can remain in the soil for up to six years. That said, most of our customers successfully grow and maintain their Box hedging without encountering blight, and with proper care, you can too.

To prevent blight, avoid over-clipping, which can create humidity within the hedge, and promptly remove any affected plants. Water at the roots rather than from above to minimise dampness. If your hedge does contract blight, a fungicidal spray can help restore it to health.

Please do not let the risk of Box blight deter you from purchasing Box hedging. This a beautiful and functional plant.

What About Box Rust?

Box rust is a mild condition where some foliage may develop rust-colored blisters. However, this issue does not cause long-term damage. Simply trim away the affected foliage, and your hedge should remain healthy and vibrant.

Pruning Advice

To keep your Box hedging in excellent condition, a simple routine of trimming once or twice a year, along with applying mulch or well-rotted organic matter, is all that is needed. We highly recommend planting with Rootgrow, and using Seaweed Fertiliser in the spring is essential for providing your Buxus sempervirens with the nutrients it needs.

When to Prune Box Hedge?

For new, young Box plants, you can cut back up to a third in their first year to encourage dense, bushy growth. If your plants are already well-established and bushy, prune your Box hedge once or twice a year, between May and August.

Further Information

The spacing for Box hedging is flexible and can be adjusted to suit your preferences. For bare-root plants, spacing 3 per metre is adequate, 5 per metre is ideal, and planting 7 per metre in a double staggered row will create a denser hedge more quickly. Smaller plants should generally be planted more densely. For cell-grown plants, a spacing of 4 per metre in a single row or 6 per metre in a staggered row is recommended, though with Buxus sempervirens, you might consider planting even more densely. For pot-grown and root-ball Box hedging plants, planting density can be adjusted based on your budget and how quickly you want to achieve a full hedge.

Buxus sempervirens Growth Rate

Buxus sempervirens is often thought of as a very slow grower, but we classify its growth rate as slow to medium, typically achieving 10-15 cm per year.

Cell-grown, pot-grown, and instant Box hedging plants are available for purchase year-round. Bare-root plants are available from November to late April or early May. Unlike many other species, Box is suitable for root-ball planting throughout the entire year.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £3250 | or £39.98 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £3250 | or £324.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £3350 | or £382 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £31500 | or £3450 charge.