we have 4 small boxwoods. they have been doing very well until the las 2 weeks. Now 50% of their leaves have turned brown and dried out. Should we water them more? They are in the sun most of the day and as London has been relatively sunny the last little while I'm concerned this is the issue. Any help?
2006-06-18 17:29:40 · 5 answers · asked by answers_anyone 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
They should be watered once a week at the very least, twice if the days are hot.
Never water while the sun is high since this can burn the leaves, the sun is magnified by the water dropplets!
I always suggest watering at sundown.
Nearly 40 years of having two green thumbs!
2006-06-18 17:44:03 · answer #1 · answered by mrscmmckim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Boxwoods are one of those shrubs which are highly susceptible to dog wee. If the browning is located toward the top, where a dog cannot reach, water may be the issue. If the outermost parts seem dry, you need more water, but if the plant is browning from the inside outward, too moist conditions may be your trouble. Then again, you may have a disease. Sorry, but the last time I flew into Heathrow was in 1991. Otherwise, I'd be more than happy to come over and have a look. Ring up a place such as Kingsgate and Kenver in Ramsgate, I used to work there, and see if they can determine the problem. All I am saying is, it could be a number of things, and without proper inspection, diagnosis seems difficult.
Best wishes
2006-06-18 18:13:14 · answer #2 · answered by floridaleoness 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Box (Buxus sempervirens?) can suffer badly from drought when young. when watering do so after the sun has gone down, water the base of the plants not over the top and try a feed of "maxicrop liquid seaweed" every 2 weeks. Unfotunatly the damage done can take a while to rectify but they should come back. Buxus comes from all over the place into the UK, mainly Holland and Italy. The dutch one's tend to be fed and watered to the hilt which brings the crop along really fast but then we buy them and don't care for them in the same way and with the root shock of planting they can struggle. The italian one's tend to be a bit bigger but generally better at transplanting as they haven't been "cared" for as intensely. Then you come to home produced one's - these are generally the best to buy as these tend to be somewhere in the middle but usually a bit dearer. I tend to plant mine in a good mix of john innes no2 and miracle grow compost and water every evening esp. when hot and or windy. even overcast days with winds can dry these plants out real fast. when established watering can almost be forgotton unless they're in pots.Other things to watch for is overspray from weedkillers and dogs using the plants as latrines. Both of these things can "dry out" one side of your plants.
2006-06-18 23:09:44 · answer #3 · answered by J J D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you bought root bound plants.
At this rate, they will all die.
I would pull or dig one up and check.
They need good soil and water with mulch on top.
Boxwoods are tough long term but not so strong getting started.
Best of luck.
2006-06-18 18:04:35 · answer #4 · answered by Texas Cowboy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would water them alot more and try giving them some food, you never no. Cut the bad leaves off, this will give way for newer leaves.
2006-06-18 22:59:01 · answer #5 · answered by Neil C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋