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How to Plant a Wintergreen Boxwood Hedge
Plant a 'Wintergreen' boxwood hedge in freely draining soil in sunny or partially shaded spots. Water the hedge regularly while it's growing.
'Wintergreen' boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Wintergreen') provides a dense, compact evergreen hedge. Also called Korean boxwood 'Wintergreen,' this shrub is named for its deep green leaves that don't lose their color through severely cold winters. 'Wintergreen' is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 and grows best in sunny or partially shaded spots and freely draining, medium moisture, sandy soil. Growing at a rate of about 2 inches per year, 'Wintergreen' grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide.
Planting a 'Wintergreen' Hedge
Preparing the Soil
Average, freely draining soil needs no amendment before planting a 'Wintergreen' hedge. Very light, dry soils can be improved by mixing 1 part sphagnum peat with 2 parts soil and using the mixture to fill planting holes. 'Wintergreen' doesn't grow well in poorly draining soil.
Planting the Shrubs
Containerized 'Wintergreen' shrubs can be planted in spring after the ground thaws and before new growth appears, and late summer or early fall when the shrubs have stopped growing. Plant bare root plants in spring before new leaves open.
Things You'll Need
Sticks and twine
Garden spade
Step 1
Tie twine to two sticks, and push the sticks into the ground to mark the line of the hedge.
Step 2
Dig holes 1 foot wider and the same depth as the shrub root balls, spaced 1 to 1 1/2 feet apart for a formal hedge or up to 2 1/2 feet apart for a natural, informal hedge.
Step 3
Remove containerized 'Wintergreen' shrubs from their containers or remove any coverings, twine or wire.
Tip
Before planting bare root 'Wintergreen' shrubs, soak the root balls in a bucket of water for five to 10 minutes.
Warning
Don't let 'Wintergreen' root balls soak for more than 12 hours.
Step 4
Place a shrub in a hole, hold it upright and fill in the gaps around the root ball with dug soil so the shrub is planted at its original growing depth. Gently push the soil between the shrub's roots.
Step 5
Firm soil around the shrub with your hands.
Step 6
Plant the other 'Wintergreen' shrubs in the same way.
Step 7
Water the shrubs to moisten the soil to the depth of the root balls.
Watering the Hedge
For the best results with a new 'Wintergreen' hedge, water it regularly during its first growing season. A hedge growing in freely draining soil needs 1 inch of water per week during dry weather, and a hedge in dry soil needs 2 inches or more of water per week. Even heavy rainfall may not supply enough water for a newly planted hedge. Check the soil moisture and apply water if the soil is dry to a depth of 2 inches.
Warning
Don't water a 'Wintergreen' hedge so much that the ground becomes soggy. Waterlogged soil drowns its roots.
