How to Root Boxwood Hedges in Winter

With proper care, you can root boxwood hedges in the winter.

Boxwood cutting
Plant container
Sand
Rooting hormone
Water
Humidifier

Things You'll Need

• Boxwood hedges are extremely popular among gardeners for their hardiness, vibrant green color and the fact that they are easily pruned into the typical box shape. In addition to simply purchasing small boxwood plants, you can also start them from cuttings, which is called rooting the plant. Although the best time to root a boxwood shrub is during the late summer and early fall, you can successfully root them during the winter if you take a few extra precautions.

Instructions

1. Wet the cut end of each boxwood cutting with water and then dip it into the rooting hormone.

2. Fill a container with sand and stick the cutting halfway into the sand.

3. Keep the cutting inside until it is approximately 10 inches tall. Keep it watered, but do not overwater.

4. Encourage growth by keeping the cutting in a humid area. Placing it in a bathroom is ideal as long as it receives a few hours of sunlight each day. You can also place a humidifier in the same room as the cutting to balance humidity.

5. Move the boxwood plant outside once the threat of frost is over. If you live in a warmer client, you can plant boxwood hedges outside during the winter and they will be fine.

6. Place bags or plastic tarps over new boxwood plants if the temperature nears the freezing point as they have not had a chance to properly root and are fragile.

References

• GardenWeb.com