Boxwood Transplant Question - Help!

11 years ago

Hello, we were gifted a mature boxwood from someone who wanted to move on to another variety. We planted it in front of our house and it did well for a couple weeks, even had a little new baby growth on top. Then all of a sudden it started turning brown, then really brown. We kept watering it, it kept turning more and more brown. We finally realized it had died and decided to pull it.

Before we got the chance, we went away for the Memorial Day weekend, and when we came back, we found this new growth! There is similar new growth on the other side as well.

So what do we do? Obviously it looks horrible overall, do we trim it way back? Trim it back a little at a time?? We would LOVE to save this bad boy but it looks a little embarrassing... but if there is hope, we are happy to baby it until it bounces back. We just don't know what to do about all the dead parts. We are novice gardeners, so any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Boxwood Photo 1

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

11 years ago

you shocked the hell out of it.. by moving it in the wrong season..

when the heat of summer started to peak.. you cut off all its roots.. and probably planted it in sun ...

but since it was a gift.. you did what you had to do.. when you had too ...

i often say.. life is all in the buds.. or the growth points.. and this plant sacrificed every single leaf.. to keep those alive..

water deeply.. and thoroughly and mulch properly.. for the rest of this year.. and let it NEARLY dry in between deep waterings..

do NOT 'feed' a stressed plant ...

and later in the summer.. when we are sure what is alive.. and what is dead.. we will prune out the dead stuff ...

i would not have bothered on a plant that size.. and whether you have the patience to look at it all summer.. will be up to you.. but if that was at my front door.. it would be shovel pruned in a minute.. its a nice experiment for way out back.. but my front door is more important.. that part is up to you ... it may take it 2 to 4 years to recover ....

ken

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Comments (7)

sam_md
11 years ago
shamity, are you sure that's a boxwood?
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shamity
Original Author
11 years ago
Ken - yep we knew we were taking a risk with the season when it came to transplanting this shrub, but we figured we'd take our chances since it was free. Thanks for the advice. My husband was discouraged by your assessment and wants to pull it, but I want to give it some TLC and see what happens! Guess we'll have to flip for it.

Sam_md - well, I am no expert by any stretch but the woman who gave it to us called it a boxwood as did my mother when she came over. I know there are a few varieties but don't know any more than that. Why, are you thinking it's something else?
sam_md
11 years ago
is the leaf arrangement opposite or alternate?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
Everything that is brown now will remain brown (and dead), so you will be pruning out a good deal - like 90% - of the shrub when you do. Personally, if I was intending on keeping it, I'd prune back now. It does the shrub no good to hold onto dead growth indefinitely. But you may not be happy with the appearance of a hard-pruned mature boxwood in that visible a location. It's going to be a long time before it looks like it did prior to transplanting.

sam, that leaf arrangement sure looks opposite to me. But a very small pic to be absolutely certain :-)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
sorry.. i am with hubby.. if its out front ...

you want to experiment with it.. behind the garage.. go move it out back..

lol

it really doesnt matter whether it a boxwood or a privet or anything else ... the result and advice is the same ... it is just a curiosity to ID it ...

ken
mrgpag SW OH Z5/6
11 years ago
If you want to keep it, trim it back - way back - and care for it as needed throughout the summer. If it doesn't come to life enough to suit you later in the summer - pull it out and trash it. I personally wouldn't move it again as that will just put further stress on the plant. Just have some patience as the plant is really stressed.
Marshall