Green Tower Boxwood: A Comprehensive Guide

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Green Tower Boxwood, also known as Buxus sempervirens 'Monrue', is a popular hedge plant that has gained immense popularity in the world of landscaping. Its dense and dark green foliage, neat and uniform growth, and versatility make it a favorite among homeowners, landscape designers, and gardeners alike.

If you're considering adding this elegant and charming plant to your outdoor space, this comprehensive guide will give you all the information you need. We've covered everything from Green Tower Boxwood's description, growing and maintenance, uses, FAQs and more.

What is Green Tower Boxwood?

Green Tower Boxwood is a compact shrub that belongs to the Buxaceae family. It is native to Europe, but it has now been cultivated extensively throughout the world. This evergreen shrub grows up to 8-10 feet tall and about 2-3 feet wide when matured.

The leaves of Green Tower Boxwood are oval-shaped, leathery, and glossy, with a dark green color that gives the plant a sophisticated and elegant look. The densely-packed leaves make it an excellent option for hedges or topiaries.

Benefits of using Green Tower Boxwood in landscaping

There are many benefits associated with using Green Tower Boxwood in your landscaping project:

• Adds elegance and charm: Green Tower Boxwood's dark green foliage adds a touch of elegance and charm to any outdoor space.
• Easy to maintain: This plant requires minimal maintenance and pruning, making it ideal for busy homeowners or people who want to save time on gardening tasks.
• Versatile: It can be used as a standalone plant, hedging, or for creating stunning topiaries.
• Tolerates shade: Green Tower Boxwood performs well in partial to full shade conditions, making it perfect for areas with low sunlight.
• Resilient: This plant is sturdy and resistant to most pests and diseases.

Why choose Green Tower Boxwood over other hedge plants?

If you're looking for a hedge plant that creates a traditional, formal look, Green Tower Boxwood should be your top pick. Its compact size, dark green foliage, and neat growth habit make it the perfect plant for creating symmetrically shaped hedges, espaliers, or topiaries. Unlike other hedge plants, such as privet, Green Tower Boxwood can tolerate pruning and trimming into various shapes without damaging the plant's health or beauty.

Green Tower Boxwood: Plant Profile and Uses

Plant Description

As mentioned earlier, Green Tower Boxwood has an attractive compact habit with dense, oval-shaped, leathery leaves that are dark green. If left unpruned, it can grow up to 8-10 feet tall and about 2-3 feet wide when matured. It blooms small flowers in the spring, but they are not particularly significant ornamental features.

Growing Green Tower Boxwood

Green Tower Boxwood is relatively easy to grow if you provide the right growing conditions. Here's what you need to know:

• Sunlight: Although Green Tower Boxwood prefers partial to full shade, it can also grow in full sun provided that the soil is consistently moist.
• Soil: well-draining, slightly acidic soil is the best choice for Green Tower Boxwood. The plant doesn't tolerate soggy soil, so make sure the drainage is good.
• Watering: Keep the soil moist, especially during hot weather. Water the plant evenly throughout the root zone to ensure uniform growth.
• Temperature: Green Tower Boxwood grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. It can tolerate cold temperatures down to -15°F.
• Fertilizer: Give your Green Tower Boxwood a balanced fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in early spring when the plant starts actively growing.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pruning is a vital practice when it comes to Green Tower Boxwood. It helps maintain the plant's size, shape, and density.

Here are some tips to help you prune your Green Tower Boxwood:

• Timing: The best time to prune Green Tower Boxwood is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
• Equipment: Use sharp and clean pruning shears or a hedge trimmer to avoid damaging the plant.
• Technique: Start by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Then, trim back the stems to the desired height and width using hand pruners or hedging shears. Make sure to cut at an angle to prevent the stem from turning brown.
• Frequency: Depending on how fast the plant grows and the desired shape, you'll need to prune it once or twice a year.

Uses and Applications

Green Tower Boxwood is versatile and can be used in various landscape designs, such as:

• Hedging: Green Tower Boxwood makes a beautiful and formal hedge. When planted densely, its small leaves create a dense wall of foliage that provides excellent privacy and soundproofing for outdoor living spaces. It also forms a border that can outline planting beds in formal gardens and provide structure.
• Topiaries: Its slow-growing habit and globe-like shape make it perfect for creating topiaries in various shapes and sizes.
• Containers: Green Tower Boxwood can grow well in pots of at least 24 inches in diameter. You can use them to frame entryways, patios, or formal front yards.

Green Tower Boxwood is undoubtedly an excellent choice for homeowners, landscapers, or garden enthusiasts who seek an elegant and low-maintenance plant to add structure to their outdoor space. Its compact size, glossy dark-green leaves, versatility, and durability make it a perfect fit in any landscaping project.

FAQ

What is the growth rate of Green Tower Boxwood?

Green Tower Boxwood has a slow growth rate of around 3-6 inches per year.

What kind of soil is best for Green Tower Boxwood?

Green Tower Boxwood prefers well-draining, slightly acidic soil. It doesn't do well in heavy clay or alkaline soils.

How often should I water my Green Tower Boxwood?

Water your Green Tower Boxwood regularly, especially during hot weather. Ensure that the soil remains uniformly moist.

Can Green Tower Boxwood grow in a sunny location?

Yes, Green Tower Boxwood can grow in full sun as long as the soil is consistently moist.

Do deer like to eat Green Tower Boxwood?

Deer tend to avoid eating boxwoods, including Green Tower Boxwood.

Is Green Tower Boxwood susceptible to any diseases or pests?

Green Tower Boxwood is generally resistant to most diseases and pests, but it's prone to some fungal leaf spots, leaf stem blight, and Pythium root rot. Good cultural practices such as providing adequate drainage, watering, and maintaining good air circulation around the plants can help reduce diseases.

Can I use Green Tower Boxwood as a standalone plant?

Yes, you can use it as a standalone plant or with other evergreens and deciduous plants in garden beds or container gardens.

What is the difference between Green Tower Boxwood and other boxwood varieties?

Green Tower Boxwood has a slower growth rate than other boxwood varieties like 'Suffruticosa' and 'Newport Blue.' Its foliage is darker and smaller compared to the other two, which have larger and lighter green leaves.

Can I grow Green Tower Boxwood in a container?

Yes, Green Tower Boxwood grows well in containers, provided that the pot is at least 24 inches in diameter.

How tall does Green Tower Boxwood grow?

Green Tower Boxwood can grow up to 8-10 feet tall when matured. It has a slow growth rate of around 3-6 inches per year.