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Boxwood is very popular. It is used as a hedge, solitary plant, bed edging, even as a beautifully shaped figure. Appropriate fertilization is important so that the boxwood remains lush green, vital and nice and dense.

In a nutshell

  • lime-loving and slow-growing
  • mainly nitrogen and potassium doses necessary
  • good fertilizers: compost and horn shavings
  • Special fertilizers are available in specialist shops
  • Fertilizer application only from March/April to August

Pretty slow growing

In the meantime, the box tree (Buxus) is setting wonderful accents in many a garden in this country. Because of its evergreen foliage, it is a real eye-catcher. It makes few demands and is usually very easy to care for. Buchs grows relatively slowly and is not exactly one of the heavy consumers. But it also needs regular fertilizers so that it retains its vitality, a corresponding winter hardiness and its lush green foliage all year round. The beautifully shaped trees in particular need balanced fertilization so that they can overcome the stress of pruning and also form a dense green foliage. Although boxwood is a slow grower compared to other shrubs and trees, it needs different nutrients, albeit in smaller amounts. It is important to pay attention to this, otherwise damage in the form of over-fertilization or lack of nutrients can quickly occur.

Tip: Before fertilizing, it is advisable to carry out a soil analysis in a laboratory. There the fertilizer requirement can be correctly determined. Based on these fertilizer recommendations, the box trees are supplied with nutrients as needed and over-fertilization is impossible.

Correct fertilizer choice

When fertilizing boxwood, it is important that the needs of the plant are known. Choosing the right fertilizer should ensure that the soil has a slightly alkaline pH value. This is very important for the lime-loving plant, because only in this way is the boxwood able to absorb and utilize the nutrients well. For healthy growth, the nutrients provided must be precisely coordinated. are important

  • Nitrogen for vigorous growth
  • Iron to form chlorophyll (leaf green)
  • Magnesium supports chlorophyll formation
  • Zinc also to support growth
  • Potassium for winter hardiness
  • Phosphorus as an energy source

Phosphorus is also responsible for flower formation. However, these are quite inconspicuous and small in the case of the Buchs. For this reason, only small amounts of phosphorus in the fertilizer are sufficient. When choosing a fertilizer, it is therefore essential to pay close attention to the needs of the crop. A wrong dosage or composition quickly becomes visible in a lack of certain nutrients:

  • initially pale leaves
  • then turning yellowish
  • later brown and withered
  • eventually leaves fall off

In this case, fertilizing the boxwood is essential. It is essential to pay attention to the composition of the fertilizer used. It is also good to know that box trees planted as a hedge have a higher nutrient requirement than solitary plants. The hedge plants have less soil volume available per plant. As a result, these plants can quickly become competitors for the nutrients in the soil.

Various fertilizers

In the fertilizer, the ratio between nitrogen and potassium must be balanced. Here the concentration is just as important as the further composition of the fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are particularly suitable. The nutrients are in a complex form and must first be processed by the microorganisms living in the soil before the plant can absorb them. These fertilizers are particularly gentle and also ensure a long-term supply of nutrients. Incidentally, the administration also promotes the soil organisms and at the same time increases the soil quality. Furthermore, over-fertilization can be ruled out. Good organic fertilizers are

horn shavings/horn meal

  • composed of ground hooves and horn of cattle
  • contain: 12 to 15% nitrogen, up to 1% potassium and less than 1% phosphorus
  • pH neutral
  • optimal long-term fertilizer
  • Release nutrients over months depending on temperature, soil aeration and humidity
  • best time for administration from March/April
  • a handful or 30 to 40 g/m² in spring is usually sufficient
  • possibly a second dose with compost in the summer
  • Work well into the top layer of soil

Notice: The finer the horn is ground, the faster the absorption and utilization of the nutrients.

mature compost

  • contain more potassium than nitrogen
  • Phosphorus and magnesium present in equal amounts
  • must be well incorporated into the soil
  • the deeper, the better the effect
  • Training already in early spring from March
  • ideal in combination with horn shavings
  • also offers root protection against late frosts

These two organic fertilizers should be used three to four months apart, as needed. A maximum of three liters of compost per square meter and a level tablespoon of horn shavings should be used.

Notice: The composted seed of weeds can be disadvantageous. However, this problem does not occur if only leaves and grass clippings are composted or if a composter with a closed lid is used.

coffee grounds

  • mainly suitable for pot culture or solitary plants
  • Larger plantings require larger amounts of coffee grounds
  • mainly contain higher amounts of nitrogen and potassium
  • Dry the coffee grounds well beforehand
  • apply evenly to the soil
  • Work in well with a coarse rake
  • Application once a week
  • However, it lowers the pH of the soil
  • additional lime is therefore necessary
  • alternatively use of tea leaves of green and black tea

Notice: Fertilizing with nettle manure can also be of good service. This should be used every four weeks.

algae lime

Especially in recent years, algae lime has been used as a plant strengthener, also for boxwood. These are deposits of red algae on the Icelandic or French Atlantic coast:

  • important ingredients: magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate and various trace elements
  • promotes growth
  • careful dosing necessary
  • iron absorption can be blocked in overly limed soils
Source: dr Eugen Lehle, http://bodenlabor.de, seaweed lime, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Long-term fertilizer from specialist shops

These special long-term fertilizers from the specialist trade are also known as depot fertilizers. These are usually small beads. The nutrients are gradually released into the soil for uptake by the plants. Fertilizing in the spring is usually sufficient. If necessary, however, additional fertilization can be carried out in summer.

Special fertilizer for boxwood

These are fertilizers that are specially made for boxwood. They contain all the important nutrients such as nitrogen, magnesium, iron and some phosphorus and ensure even growth and dense foliage. Depending on the manufacturer, however, the composition may differ. When dosing, the information on the packaging must be observed.

blue grain

Blue grain fertilizer, also known as nitrophoska, should not be your first choice for boxwood fertilizer. The remedy contains many nutrients such as

  • 15% nitrogen
  • 20% potassium
  • 5% phosphorus
  • 2% magnesium
  • 8% sulfur

When fertilized with blue grain, box trees cannot utilize all the nutrients contained here. It would be a waste in that regard. It could also lead to over-fertilization.

time to fertilize

Boxwood may only be fertilized during the growth phase between April and August. From August onwards, fertilizing should be stopped so that the plant shoots have enough time to fully mature. This is the only way they can achieve a corresponding winter hardiness. With further fertilizer applications, new shoots would appear again and again well into autumn and would no longer lignify before the start of winter. They would then be very susceptible to frost. How often the box has to be fertilized during this time always depends on the type of fertilizer used. As a rule, one or two fertilizer applications per year are sufficient.

Exception potash fertilization

An exception to the fertilization here is the administration of Kalimagnesia, or potash fertilizer for short. It is commercially available as patent potash. This should be given to the Buchs from August to September. The fertilizer promotes frost hardiness. It acts like a kind of antifreeze. The shoots lignify more quickly and the leaves have a solid cell structure, since the freezing point of the cell sap is lowered. As a result, the boxwood can survive the colder seasons without major damage.

Notice: Organic fertilization with potassium-rich comfrey manure or pure charcoal ash can also promote winter hardiness in boxwood.

frequently asked Questions

How should boxwood be fertilized in the bucket?

Fertilization must be carried out here regularly between April and September. Liquid fertilizer for green plants or special boxwood fertilizer should be used here. This is administered once a week with the irrigation water. When dosing, it is essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions. It is also important that the fertilizer does not come into contact with dry soil, otherwise the roots can burn. Therefore, the soil should first be moistened with clear water.

What demands does the Buchs place on location and soil?

Boxwood loves a sunny and not too warm location. It does not tolerate direct sunlight well. It should therefore never find its place on a south wall. In addition, the box also gets along well with a shady place under large trees. The soil should be calcareous, well drained and well moist. It can also have a slightly clayey composition. The composition of the soil is also important for the choice of fertilizer.

How often does the boxwood have to be watered?

In addition to fertilizer application, water supply is also important for good growth and development. Buchs cultivated in buckets must be watered daily on hot days, otherwise once a week is sufficient. However, the root ball must never dry out. In the field, the boxwood can survive in drought for some time, but only if it is not in the blazing sun. Since it is an evergreen plant, watering is necessary even in winter on frost-free days.

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Garden plants