Very Nice Boxwood... Help!

[Backwardsvg]

I have a really nice boxwood I found at a local nursery that has been field grown and somewhat forgotten. It has a really nice trunk and they said they will dig it up for me this week or next. I am wondering what kind of work I can do to it this spring?

Could it handle a repot and heavy prune? I know they are quite hardy but I do not want to do too much too fast.

I have not worked with boxwood before so I am trying to do some reading and watching to learn more. It seems like people do some pretty intense root pruning and chopping back without any issues. Interested in hearing your take and advice!

Thank you!

 

[rockm]

I have a really nice boxwood I found at a local nursery that has been field grown and somewhat forgotten. It has a really nice trunk and they said they will dig it up for me this week or next. I am wondering what kind of work I can do to it this spring?

Could it handle a repot and heavy prune? I know they are quite hardy but I do not want to do too much too fast.

I have not worked with boxwood before so I am trying to do some reading and watching to learn more. It seems like people do some pretty intense root pruning and chopping back without any issues. Interested in hearing your take and advice!

Thank you!

This all depends on the root mass they collect. If its an older plant that has an extensive root system, then you will have to wait at least a three years for it to recover. Even if they get a substantial root mass, you would probably have to do all your chopping as it is being collected. and that will weaken it. Working it hard the first year is not a great idea. The longer the recovery time, the more abuse it can handle...and by long I mean I don't work on ANY collected tree for at least two years. .

 

[BrianBay9]

Without a pic I'm assuming this is a pretty beefy, old plant? Boxwood are indeed quite hardy. But as with any collected tree it will need time to recover and regrow roots. Try to get most of the field soil off and into decent, well draining soil. Don't take off more feeder roots than you need to to get it into a container. You can do some top pruning at the same time, but I'd be a bit generous in the amount of foliage left on this year. Certainly don't cut back past the lowest green showing on any branches you want to keep. They can bud back well on old wood, but sometimes they don't.

 

[Backwardsvg]

Yes to me it seems very nice I would say maybe a 3-4 inch trunk +/- an inch or two, I didnt get too see it for too long but it for sure is a nice trunk.

So you are saying you would loosen a good amount the field soil and put it into a different soil? I wasnt planning on doing any root pruning/ really taking out roots. My main idea was to do some cleaning out of dead branches and maybe some light pruning. But I want to take it pretty easy so it makes it!

 

[Paradox]

If it is getting dug up, I would concentrate on getting it into a large training container ASAP if the root mass can handle that much of a cut back.
If its really big, cut it back by 1/3 and put it back in the ground at your house.
Rockm is absolutely correct, slower is better and drastic work is risky

 

[Backwardsvg]

Ok great thank you for the advice @Paradox I will upload some photos when they have it dug out and I go to pick it up! Thank you all!

 

[Backwardsvg]

Here is the boxwood.
I cleaned out 90-95% of the field soil it was extremely compact mud. I did not do any root pruning as the roots where surprisingly shallow and had a nice spread.
I repotted in a large plastic container with tons of drainage holes and a good bonsai mix.
I did not take anything off the top.

my question is should I think the top a bit or wait a few weeks and then do some initial styling? Should I start to fertilize once I move it from protection?

 

[DanaWhicker]

Wow!! Very Nice! You just took it out of the ground. Don't do any styling in a few weeks. Patience my friend.

 

[Backwardsvg]

Wow!! Very Nice! You just took it out of the ground. Don't do any styling in a few weeks. Patience my friend.

you think wait a fully year to do anything? There’s just a good amount of dead branches etc also will there be an imbalance of leaves to roots?

 

[DanaWhicker]

Moving a tree from the ground to a shallow plastic box is very traumatic. That tree has so much potential, I would let it settle in its new environment for at least a year. I'm kinda new to this so I might not know what I'm talking about.

 

[River's Edge]

Here is the boxwood.
I cleaned out 90-95% of the field soil it was extremely compact mud. I did not do any root pruning as the roots where surprisingly shallow and had a nice spread.
I repotted in a large plastic container with tons of drainage holes and a good bonsai mix.
I did not take anything off the top.

my question is should I think the top a bit or wait a few weeks and then do some initial styling? Should I start to fertilize once I move it from protection?

At this point allow the tree to recover for 4 to 6 weeks, then begin to fertile, but lower strength in the beginning. There is no rush to begin styling and every reason to allow this season for recovery.

 

[Backwardsvg]

Just an update, looks like there is healthy growth on the boxwood.

I have been doing a fertilizer 1x a week or so. Is that too much for boxwood? I’m using just normal miracle grow that you mix into a gallon.

 

[sorce]

Damn, you here!? I probably forgot twice or more.

The possibility of seeing it in person is cool.

That growth doesn't look exactly healthy but I wouldn't sweat it, it has plenty of old leaves to produce root.

Should you see root before the solstice, and before the algae that will use the excess fertilizer covers the see through, I'd go ahead and find the trunks/parts you wish to keep and work on exposing them some by removing surrounding non keeper stuff before the fall growth comes.

I'd have wanted you to remove some stuff upon transplant, but it seemed a more dangerous endeavor than to not, had I remembered you were so close, we coulda remedied that in person.

The problem I see now, which also paused talk earlier also due to more damage than less, are these 2 wicks you have burning.

One being the plastic bin, which I'm certain is problematic for boxwood, due to my theory on why boxwood leaf edges yellow and their particular transpiration needs.
The other being trying to have growth so far out from what is design keepable support the tree, which will continue to lessen interior vigour, which can add a few unnecessary years to the project, or worse, remove the best design option.

I really think it may be best to make a wood box the same size as that bin, cut a side off that plastic with a soldering iron and slide the whole thing into the box. Kinda like they gutter plant peas but more safe and gentle. There's more but it's hard to explain.

I haven't found a clear plastic under bed storage box that holds up to more than a couple weeks of UV, so it may become deathly problematic.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

There's more but it's hard to explain.

You may have to put a "false wall" in before you cut the side off to hold that soil up.

Take the cutoff side and jam it down on the inside of the opposite wall, place the bin in the box with the other wall missing, hold the solder cut side in place as you slide the box out, then push that in a bit with the final box wall, and yoink the solder cut plastic and false wall.


Boxedwood.

I think doing it is less risky than not. The decision should be made before roots go out the holes and the plastic deteriorates.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

If you can bring it over you're welcome to.
I even have enough HT pallet wood to make the box.

Sorce

 

[Backwardsvg]

@sorce you are fantastic! I would love to bring it there! What day works for you?

 

[sorce]

@sorce you are fantastic! I would love to bring it there! What day works for you?

I'm only not here tween about 8 and 830AM and 3 and 330PM. I reckon this weekend is open too.

Any day is fine for me, rain free iffin you're a melter!

Sorce

 

[Backwardsvg]

Sunday work for you? Looks like it’ll be nice out? If so should we say 10ish to give you time before you’re out at 3? Not sure how long this will be so don’t want to be putting any stress on your time!

 

[Backwardsvg]

After a trip to @sorce place I got the boxwood looking nice with his help. I am waiting on building the box till later in the summer and will just build it around the plastic to keep it from falling out. I also took some water and a very soft bristled toothbrush and cleaned up the trunk. I think this thing is looking very nice so far. Excited to keep it happy and growing out for next years work!

 

[Backwardsvg]

Looking happy so far! I will see how it fairs the next few weeks with the intense heat wave we have coming.