The Ultimate Guide to Beautiful Boxwood Landscaping

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These beautiful boxwood landscaping ideas will look perfect in your garden.

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The history of boxwoods in landscaping

Boxwoods have been a staple in garden design for centuries, revered for their versatility and enduring appeal. Originating from Europe, Asia, and Africa, boxwoods were introduced to America in the 1600s and quickly became a favorite in colonial gardens. Their dense, evergreen foliage and ability to be shaped into intricate forms made them a favorite for both formal and informal landscapes. To this day, boxwood landscaping continues to be a key component in garden design. Keep reading to learn how to care for boxwoods and get the boxwood landscape design tips you need to create a beautiful garden.

Formal garden with mixed evergreens and small boxwood shrub border — Source

The appeal of boxwoods

Boxwoods offer a variety of landscaping possibilities, from stately hedges and elegant topiaries to low borders and intricate parterres. Their dense, evergreen foliage provides year-round interest and structure, making them a perfect choice for creating garden rooms, defining pathways, and adding a touch of elegance to any outdoor space.

Boxwood hedge garden design for front yard — Source

Pros and cons of boxwoods

Pros:

Evergreen Appeal: Boxwoods maintain their lush green foliage throughout the year, providing continuous color and structure in the garden.
Versatility: Their adaptability to various pruning styles makes boxwoods suitable for formal hedges, topiaries, and casual, informal plantings.
Durability: With proper care, boxwoods can live for decades, offering long-term value and stability in garden design.
Low Maintenance: Once established, boxwoods require minimal upkeep, thriving in a variety of soil conditions and climates.

Parterre garden for historic Charleston courtyard garden — Source

Cons:

Pests and Diseases: Boxwoods can be susceptible to pests such as boxwood leaf miners and diseases like boxwood blight.
Slow Growth: Boxwoods are relatively slow-growing, which can be a disadvantage if quick coverage or height is desired.
Specific Care Needs: While generally hardy, boxwoods do require specific care practices, particularly regarding pruning and fertilization.

Round boxwood shrubs with lavender — Source

Boxwood Care

Here are tips to keep your boxwoods looking beautiful all year.

Best Fertilizer for Boxwoods:

Boxwoods thrive with balanced, slow-release fertilizers. The American Boxwood Society recommends a urea-based fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-6-4 for optimal results. However, an all purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer (equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) would also be appropriate.

Fertilizer should be applied on top of mulch, just outside the plant’s drip line. Apply in late fall or early spring to encourage healthy root growth and vibrant foliage. Boxwoods do best with a soil pH of 6.8 to 7.5. Therefore, it is important to choose a fertilizer that will not acidify the soil unless your soil pH is above 7.5. You can test your soil pH with a pH meter. Recommendations for fertilizer and tools for maintaining your boxwood landscaping can be found at the bottom of this post.

English garden landscaping with boxwoods — Source

When to Prune Boxwoods:

Pruning boxwoods is best done in late winter to early spring before new growth emerges. Light maintenance pruning can also be performed in mid-summer to shape and maintain desired forms. Avoid heavy pruning in late fall to prevent stimulating new growth that could be damaged by frost.

French parterre garden with boxwoods — Source

Popular Varieties of Boxwoods

Buxus sempervirens (Common Boxwood): Known for its classic appeal and versatility, suitable for hedges and topiaries.
Buxus microphylla (Japanese Boxwood): More heat and drought-tolerant, ideal for warmer climates.
Buxus sinica var. insularis (Korean Boxwood): Cold-hardy and compact, excellent for low borders and hedging.
Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ (Dwarf English Boxwood): Perfect for small hedges and intricate designs due to its compact growth.

Asian boxwood varieties are generally less susceptible to boxwood blight than English or American boxwood varieties.

Landscaping with boxwoods, hydrangeas, and tulips — Source

Companion Plants for Boxwoods

Boxwoods pair beautifully with a variety of plants, enhancing their visual appeal and creating harmonious landscapes. Some excellent companion plants include:

Hydrangeas: Their large, showy blooms provide a lovely contrast to the dense foliage of boxwoods.
Hostas: With their lush, broad leaves, hostas add texture and interest to boxwood plantings.
Roses: Classic and elegant, roses and boxwoods together create a timeless, romantic garden.
Lavender: The silvery foliage and fragrant blooms of lavender complement the green hues of boxwoods.
Perennials like Salvia and Astilbe: These add seasonal color and dynamic interest to the evergreen backdrop of boxwoods.

Designing Hedges with Boxwoods

Whether you’d like to add a bit of privacy to your garden or create evergreen landscaping borders, boxwoods are an excellent choice for hedges.

Boxwood Hedge Ideas:

Formal Hedges: Create stately borders along pathways or property lines with tightly clipped boxwood hedges.
Knot Gardens: Utilize boxwoods to design intricate knot gardens, adding a touch of historical charm.
Parterres: Design ornate parterres with boxwoods to form elegant, symmetrical patterns in your garden.

Boxwoods offer timeless beauty, versatility, and structure to any garden. Whether you’re designing a formal front yard landscape, creating an informal cottage garden, or incorporating boxwood shrubs into your evergreen landscaping, boxwoods provide endless possibilities. With proper care, thoughtful design, and complementary companion plants, boxwoods can add a touch of elegance and charm to your garden.