Planting

• 1). Site your boxwood in a protected spot in full sun or light shade. A spot with morning sun and afternoon shade is perfect, especially in areas where summer temperatures are intense. Avoid windy spots and areas that remain wet, as boxwoods must have good drainage.
  
  
• 2). Check the soil pH with a home pH test kit or pH meter. You can also send a soil sample to your local extension service. Boxwoods grow best in soil that's slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 5.5 to 7.5. Consult with your garden center or extension service for the amount of lime need to raise the pH or agricultural sulfur needed to lower it, if necessary. The amount will vary, depending on your soil composition and the existing pH.
  
  
• 3). Dig planting holes as deep as the existing root ball and twice as wide. In heavy soils, make the hole 2 to 3 inches shallower than the root ball. So it drains adequately, the shrub should sit higher than the existing soil level.
  
  
• 4). Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch such as shredded bark around the boxwood plant, extending out at least 12 inches beyond the canopy. Keep the mulch 1 to 2 inches away from stems to avoid trapping moisture near them. Don't use plastic sheeting under the mulch, as it keeps the soil too wet.
  
  
• 5). Water newly planted boxwoods deeply after planting, then keep the soil moist but not soggy throughout their first season. After they're well established, boxwoods needs supplemental water only during dry spells
  
  

Ongoing Care

• 1). Top off the mulch yearly, keeping the mulch level at 2 to 3 inches. Don't remove the old mulch, as American boxwoods are shallow-rooted and often extend their roots into the mulch itself. For the same reason, don't cultivate around the roots. Always pull weeds by hand to avoid damaging the fine roots.
  
  
• 2). Check the pH every year or two, if it was necessary to amend the soil.
  
  
• 3). Feed American boxwoods with a fertilizer formulated for evergreen shrubs or with a balanced, all-purpose garden fertilizer. Follow package directions carefully for the proper amount to use; too much fertilizer damages plant roots. Always apply fertilizer to moist soil. If necessary, water the shrubs the day before you fertilize. If you grow boxwoods in areas that are marginally hardy, fertilize only in spring so all new growth has sufficient time to harden off before cold weather. In other areas, feed the trees twice during the planting season--in late winter and again in late spring, recommends North Carolina State University.
  
  
• 4). Prune out damaged or diseased branches whenever they're found, sterilizing the pruner blades between cuts with alcohol or a solution of 1 part household bleach in 9 parts water. Prune for shape at any time during the growing season, but discontinue pruning six to eight weeks before the first expected frost date in your area.
  
  
• 5). Remove older branches as the shrub matures and becomes dense so sunlight reaches all areas, facilitating growth. Ventilation also deters pests and disease. Shape sheared hedges so the bottom of the hedge is wider than the top.
  
  
• 6). Water established American boxwoods whenever weekly rainfall is less than 1 inch. Extra watering is needed during hot, windy weather. If autumn rainfall is sparse, water the plants thoroughly before frost.