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Boxwood belongs to the genus of evergreen trees and shrubs. Planting and caring for boxwood in the Moscow region is available to any gardener who will show patience when growing this interesting and unusual plant. Slow-growing evergreen trees and shrubs have an elastic, dense crown that is easily amenable to decorative haircut.
Features of growing boxwood in central Russia
The beautiful evergreen shrub has won fame and love among gardeners in the Moscow region as an ideal material for hedges and park figures. The slow growth and longevity of boxwood allows you to create unique decorations in the garden and in the country with minimal maintenance.
In recent years, evergreen boxwood has become popular in the Moscow region and the middle zone with a temperate climate. For the cultivation of unpretentious shrubs in the Moscow region, no special conditions are required.
Correctly selected varieties and shelter for the winter will allow you to enjoy the evergreen shrub that came to the Moscow region from the southern latitudes for a long time.
The best varieties of boxwood for the Moscow region
In nature, there are more than fifty species and varieties of boxwood. There are trees up to 15 m. Some species of evergreen plant live up to 600 years. Such long-livers are not found among cultivated species. And the maximum growth of boxwood trees and shrubs in gardens does not reach more than 6 - 8 m.
Caucasian (Calchis) boxwood
Caucasian (Calchis) boxwood is the most frost-resistant of these evergreens. In the wild, it grows in the Mediterranean and the Caucasus. For cultivation in the Moscow region, the following varieties are recommended:
- Blauer Heinz (Blauer Heinz) is a slow-growing evergreen shrub, reaching a height of 1 m. The dark green foliage with a bluish tint creates a beautiful crown. The flowers of the plant are light, greenish, small. Boxwood of this variety tolerates prolonged frosts better than others.
- Elegans - grows no more than a meter. The foliage of the culture is light green bordered. Usually has a spherical crown.
- Suffruticosis (Suffruticosa) the dense crown of a short (up to 1 m) shrub responds well to a haircut. The light green crown is covered with small melliferous flowers in spring.
Small-leaved boxwood
Small-leaved boxwood tolerates winter frosts worse. But even among this type of evergreen shrubs there are frost-resistant varieties suitable for growing in the Moscow region.
- Winter Jam - can reach 1.5 m. The dense crown of the descendant of Japanese or Korean box trees lends itself well to formation. The plant is distinguished by its rapid growth, which is rare for shrubs and trees of this species. This is the most frost-resistant variety that can survive without shelter at temperatures down to -30 degrees. But in the Moscow region, it is advisable to cover the boxwood of this variety.
- Faulkner small-leaved refers to slow-growing evergreen shrubs. The maximum culture can reach one and a half meters. The bush is compact.The natural shape of its crown allows you to create spherical shapes. It tolerates frosts of the Moscow region well.
Balearic boxwood
The Balearic type of boxwood with large foliage is distinguished by its rapid growth and special decorativeness. A native of the Balearic Islands, in central Russia and the Moscow region, it can be grown only in the form of a tub culture. The plant does not tolerate winter frosts.
Evergreen boxwood
Do not plant evergreen box trees in open ground. All varieties of this type do not tolerate cold weather well, therefore they are also suitable for growing in tubs. In the suburbs, it is better to refuse to choose an evergreen type of shrub.
Planting and caring for boxwood in the suburbs
To grow boxwood in the Moscow region, you should choose the correct illumination of the site for planting. The foliage of the shrub does not tolerate bright light and heat. Therefore, it is recommended to plant boxwood in partial shade.
Dislikes shrubs and drafts. When planting, it is better to choose a place near the wall of the house or near a large tree. In this case, the distance to the wall should be at least a meter for the normal formation and development of the root system.
Landing dates
Boxwood is planted in open ground in spring and autumn. In the Moscow region and the middle lane, planting and caring for boxwood depends on the timing of the onset of cold weather. When planted in the spring in the ground, the plant will have time to completely take root and adapt. In the fall, in the Moscow region, it is better to dig in the plant in the garden and cover it in order to plant it in a permanent place in April.
Planting site and soil preparation
Boxwood grows well and develops on loose fertile soils. Be sure to arrange good drainage for him. Moisture-loving shrub does not tolerate excessive soil moisture. In the presence of stagnant water, the plant is more likely to be exposed to fungal diseases.
Boxwood does not develop well on acidic soils. Experts recommend adding a little lime to the planting pit. To increase moisture and air permeability, vermiculite or another drainage mixture should be added not only to the bottom, but also to the soil.
Ideally, if the soil for planting boxwood is 50% mature compost. The remaining half should contain fertile soil and river coarse sand.
It is necessary that the planting pit for the boxwood is three times the volume of the earthen lump of the seedling. If the planting is planned to be tape, then it is advisable to prepare a common trench.
Rules for planting boxwood in the Moscow region
With an increase in demand for boxwood seedlings for creating hedges and ornamental plantings, the risk of acquiring infected plants in the Moscow region has increased. Therefore, before planting in the ground, gardeners are advised to keep the container with a bush in quarantine for 1 - 2 weeks.
Seedlings with a closed root system are recommended to be watered abundantly a day before planting in order to avoid injury to the root when released from the planting container. Some gardeners soak the root system in standing water for 10 to 12 hours. If you suspect an infection, you can soak in a fungicide solution.
Planting a seedling of an evergreen shrub in the ground should be carried out in cloudy weather or in the evening. A fragile plant can be severely damaged by sunlight. If after planting in the suburbs there is hot sunny weather, then it is advisable to shade boxwood bushes.
Landing Algorithm:
- Lay a drainage layer 2 - 3 cm at the bottom of the pit.
- Mix the soil in half with the drainage mixture.
- Gently free the root system.
- Place the plant in the hole and spread the root.
- Cover the seedling with prepared moist soil, carefully compacting it.
For the next 2 to 3 days, the settling soil under the plant should be supplemented. To prevent the water from spreading during watering, experienced gardeners recommend arranging a small earthen roller around the planting hole at a distance of about 20 cm from the boxwood trunk.The formed circle can be covered with perlite to minimize water evaporation.
Watering and feeding
Watering boxwood requires abundant and regular watering. In hot weather, with a lack of moisture, the leaves of the plant quickly turn yellow.
A bush with a height of 20 - 30 cm requires up to 3 liters of liquid. A meter-high boxwood will require up to 10 liters of water. In a dry period, you should not increase the frequency of watering. It is more important to add the amount of liquid poured under each boxwood bush.
In the spring, when the weather is warm, the soil under the evergreen bushes must be loosened and mulched with a layer of peat. In this case, the mulch should not be allowed to touch the trunk or new shoots.
The first feeding during the spring planting of boxwood in the ground is carried out in a month. The fertilizer should contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It will not hurt to feed the established seedlings with organic matter. You can use 1:10 cow dung or 1:20 poultry manure.
Mandatory monthly fertilizing with nitrogen during the period of intensive growth of the bush. In the fall, nitrogen is not needed as part of the fertilizer. But phosphorus and potassium will not be superfluous. When planting boxwood in the fall in the suburbs, nitrogen fertilizers should not be used.
Special fertilizers for boxwood have also been developed, which can be applied to the soil before planting and fed during the growth period.
Dutch-made Buksus Azet contains, in addition to organic components, soil bacteria and mycorrhiza. Natural organic fertilizer is ideally balanced and includes a full range of trace elements for fertilizing boxwood. One kilogram of Buksus Azet will be enough to fertilize plantings on an area of 10 sq. m.
Pruning
The main reason why boxwood is loved by gardeners in the Moscow region is the shrub's predisposition to the formation of various objects. An evergreen can be shaped like a ball or circle. For experienced craftsmen, boxwood can decorate the garden in the form of any most fantastic figure.
You can start trimming plantings in the Moscow region from April. Only young growth is shortened. This stimulates the branching of the bush. Preventive pruning in order to maintain the selected shape in the Moscow region must be carried out at least 1 time per month.
Protection against diseases and pests
Boxwood is a poisonous plant. Therefore, there are few pests willing to taste its leaves. But the boxwood moth is not afraid of poison. This butterfly is capable of completely destroying the plant in a short time.
If a cobweb has appeared on the shoots, and small yellow-green caterpillars with dark specks of heads are found inside the bush, then the plant needs to be urgently saved.
To combat the pest, chemical and biological preparations are used. The different composition and mode of action make it possible to effectively destroy the boxwood moth at all stages of development.
- Fufanon - Danish-made phosphate insecticide. Malathion in its composition affects the digestive system of insects. Dilute 1 ml of the drug in a liter of water and spray thoroughly boxwood leaves from all sides. The protection period is up to two weeks.
- Actellik - a non-systemic insecticide that acts on an insect through direct contact. The drug does not accumulate in the leaves. Spraying boxwood bushes should be carried out with a solution of 2 ml of the drug in a liter of water. The protective effect does not exceed two weeks in dry weather. At air temperatures above 25 degrees, processing is not recommended.
- Aktara - Swiss systemic preparation of contact-intestinal action. Effective against most pests. The components that make up the product additionally stimulate the growth and development of plants. 10 liters of water requires 8 ml of Aktara. Spraying helps not only to destroy the boxwood moth, but also to protect the shrub for up to 2 months.
- Aktofit - a biological insecticide for protection against pests, which contains avermectin, a fungus that negatively affects the nervous system of insects. The drug is the least hazardous to humans and the environment.
How boxwood winters in the Moscow region
Contrary to fears, the evergreen southerner boxwood in the Moscow region tolerates frosts quite easily in winter. The main thing is that the area where the plant is planted is not exposed to direct sunlight. Otherwise, an early thaw in the Moscow region in spring and drying cold in winter will destroy the plant.
When choosing a place to grow boxwood, you should consider the height of the snow cover. Natural protection and proper care will help boxwood spend the winter without loss in the Moscow region.
How to cover boxwood for the winter in the suburbs
Even the warmest shelter will not save the thermophilic boxwood from frost, unless preparatory measures are taken.
Before covering the boxwood for the winter in the Moscow region, it is necessary to saturate the roots of the shrub with moisture. Preparation begins 1.5 - 2 weeks before the onset of cold weather. After watering, the trunk circle must be mulched to a height of 10 cm. In this case, the mulch must not be allowed to touch the trunk. The indent should be left up to 2 cm in a circle.
For mulching, it is better to take peat or rotted needles. Dry leaves should not be used. Overcooking, they can infect the boxwood root system with fungal mold.
It is recommended to cover shrubs in the Moscow region with non-woven material. Plastic wrap is not suitable for plant protection in winter. The airtight material creates increased humidity when exposed to sunlight. This is dangerous for evergreen branches and can lead to rotting.
The protruding branches of the bush should be tied up, and props should be installed for the covering material. This is necessary to create an air layer between the shelter and the bush branches. Additionally, the supports will protect the plant from the severity of the snow layer.
For tall boxwood bushes, it is advisable to arrange frame supports that will protect against breakage during snowstorms, which are often raging in the Moscow region.
For stunted boxwood bushes, you can use wooden crates with openings for air intake.
Before the onset of winter frosts and the fall of the thermometer mark below 10 degrees, you should not tightly tie the covering material. With a lack of ventilation, boxwood can be exposed to damping.
The second stage of the shelter consists in throwing pre-prepared spruce branches over the covering material.
In the spring, in the Moscow region, you should not rush to take off warm clothes from boxwood bushes. It is necessary to gradually accustom the plants to sunlight. Shelters should be slightly opened for a while to allow plants to breathe and remove excess condensation.
You can completely remove the shelter in the Moscow region in the spring when the topsoil warms up and the roots begin to wake up after the winter cold. Otherwise, under the sun's rays, branches and leaves will quickly give up the accumulated moisture and can dry out before the root system awakens.
Reproduction of boxwood
The easiest and most economical way to propagate boxwood is by cuttings. Young shoots are cut from a healthy bush and planted in a light mixture of sand and fertile soil. You can use pieces of branches left over from the summer shearing of boxwood. For early rooting, you can use special preparations: Kornevin or its analogues.
The seedling is ready for planting in a permanent place when new shoots begin to develop.
Growing boxwood from seeds is much more difficult. Ripe seeds must be picked at the end of autumn. Before sowing, they are germinated for a long time on a damp cloth. This period is often about a month.All this time, it is required to moisten the seeds with water. Sprouted seeds should be sprouted down into light sandy soil.
The method of propagation by seeds is a laborious task, since the seed material is characterized by tight germination. And it is very difficult to collect it with a regular haircut.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for boxwood in the Moscow region is not a big deal. To create unique living garden decorations, you will need high-quality planting material, the right choice of variety and a little effort.
