High-quality boxwood from the nursery is expensive, which is why a longer border or hedge in the garden can be really expensive. However, with a little patience, you can grow the plants you need yourself. All you need is a he althy mother plant.
How do I grow boxwood myself from cuttings?
To grow boxwood yourself, use cuttings from a he althy mother plant. Remove the leaves from the lower third, dip the end in rooting hormones and stick it in loose, moist soil. Patience is required as root growth can take several months.
Boxwood can be propagated by cuttings
Boxwood is best propagated using cuttings or cracklings, which are relatively easy to root. All you need is a little patience, because it can take six or more months for the slow-growing box to develop its first delicate roots. In principle, propagation via seeds is also possible, although this is complicated and too time-consuming for the layperson. The perfect time for cutting cuttings is the months of June to August: at this point the new shoots are already well matured and less susceptible to fungal infections. Shoot pieces that have been planted now usually only take root in the following spring and then sprout for the first time.
Propagation of boxwood cuttings – step by step
The easiest way to root is so-called cracklings, which you can win and take as follows:
- First select a few stronger shoots with lots of side shoots.
- The side shoots should be at least two years old and ten centimeters long.
- Tear off the side shoots so that the branch remains on the cutting.
- The roots develop from this.
- All leaves are plucked off in the lower third of the cutting.
- Dip the bottom end into a glass of water and then into a rooting preparation.
- You can stick large cuttings directly into a prepared garden bed.
- Loose this thoroughly and improve the soil with mature compost.
- The soil should always be kept slightly moist.
- However, too much moisture causes the cuttings to rot.
- The lower third of the cuttings should be completely buried in the soil.
- A cover with fir branches is sufficient as winter protection in case of frost.
Very small cuttings are best rooted in a mini greenhouse (€239.00 on Amazon), which you set up either on the windowsill or in a not too sunny spot in the garden. These plants root more easily if you cover the planter with a transparent hood and thus keep the humidity high. Regular ventilation and watering is important for root growth and should therefore definitely not be forgotten.
Tip
Choose the cuttings as large as possible, as boxwood grows very slowly and otherwise takes an extremely long time to reach an acceptable height for edging or hedges. Lengths between 20 and 30 centimeters are optimal.
