It delights us as an elegant flower bed border, a representative hedge or a furious green sculpture. In order for boxwood to meet the floral expectations of its gardeners, careful cultivation is important. The well-dosed administration of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements plays a central role in the range of expert care measures. The timing and nutrient formulation are just as relevant as the amount administered. No longer puzzle over the question of what and when to fertilize boxwood. Here you can read the answer, tried and tested and precise.
Recommended fertilizers
The decision for the preferred boxwood fertilizer corresponds to the gardener's individual principles. If garden management is based on natural premises, using mineral or mineral-organic preparations is frowned upon. In this case, the focus is on purely organic fertilizers. Anyone who aims for rapid success with mineral fertilization and is not afraid of the higher costs should pay attention to the adequate offers from specialist retailers. The following overview presents proven boxwood fertilizers with tips on the right time to apply:
Mineral and mineral-organic fertilizers for outdoor Buxus
If a boxwood thrives in a bed, the plant has different nutrient requirements than in a pot. Since the ornamental tree can spread its roots largely unhindered outdoors, it has more extensive access to nutrients than in the narrow substrate volume of a planter. In addition, hobby gardeners prefer a solid fertilizer for outdoor Buxus, while in the pot - for practical reasons - a liquid preparation is used.
Compo boxwood fertilizer
The mineral long-term fertilizer with an NPK composition of 8+3+4 is structured in such a way that it releases its ingredients gradually over a period of 6 months. This is possible because the fertilizer beads are covered with a layer of resin.
Time: One dose in March is enough for the entire season
Chrystal boxwood with lime
The formulation of this mineral fertilizer pays particular attention to the increased lime requirements of boxwood trees. The NPK composition of 9+5+8 is supplemented with 32 percent lime. This is particularly necessary in soils that tend to have a slightly acidic pH value.
Time: In March and June 1 measuring spoon per bush
Boxwood fertilizer from Oscorna
The product comes with a balanced combination of mineral and organic ingredients. A rapid initial effect results in a long-lasting nutrient supply for up to 3 months.
Time: In March 100-120 grams per square meter and in June top fertilization with 50-60 grams per square meter
Tip:
Giving fertilizer to boxwoods only results in the hoped-for success if the preparation is applied directly to the roots without coming into contact with the leaves. The tree is then watered extensively.
Cuxin boxwood fertilizer
This special fertilizer enjoys excellent reviews among hobby gardeners. The product owes this to a well-balanced NPK structure of 6+3+6 plus magnesium and seaweed lime. If a Buxus is pampered with this concentrated load of nutrients and lime, it will show its best side all year round. Of course, this premium quality comes at a price, which is well above the average market level.
Time: Administer 100-150 grams per square meter in March/April and August/September
Mineral and mineral-organic liquid fertilizers for pot Buxus
Compo boxwood fertilizer liquid
This mineral NPK fertilizer 8-3+4 is ideal for evergreen ornamental trees on balconies and terraces. Enriched with iron, the preparation supports a rich green leaf color and dense growth.
Time: From March, 1 dosing cap in 5 liters of irrigation water every week
Cuxin boxwood liquid fertilizer
Premium fertilizer for your Buxus in the bucket. The manufacturer added plenty of iron to the organic-mineral liquid fertilizer so that the rich green, shiny leaf color is retained over a long period of time.
Time: From March 3-5 ml in 1 l of irrigation water every week
Gärtner’s boxwood fertilizer liquid
The ideal fertilizer for the bargain hunters among hobby gardeners, because the product scores with an affordable price without sacrificing an appropriate NPK formulation of 8+5+6. In addition, it is economical to use, as 1 dosing cap is sufficient for 3 liters of water.
Time: Add water weekly from March to August
Chrystal boxwood fertilizer sticks
A sensible alternative to liquid fertilizer for gardeners who don't want to think about fertilizing their potted plants every week. Pressed into the substrate close to the trunk, the sticks develop their effect over 3 months.
Time: Press into the substrate and water in March and June
Tip:
Fertilizers must not be applied to dried substrate. The s alts it contains can damage the roots. Therefore, water the boxwood with clear water before adding the liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water.
Dehner boxwood fertilizer liquid
The fertilizer solution impresses with an NPK composition of 7+5+5 and is very productive. One cap per 3 liters covers the nutritional needs of a Buxus for a week. Larger specimens are ideally pampered with the nutrient solution twice a week.
Time: From March to August add 1 to 2 times a week to the watering water
Organic fertilizers
Compost
The compost heap is part of the standard equipment in environmentally conscious hobby gardens. If garden and kitchen waste is professionally piled up and repeatedly moved, a rich, purely natural fertilizer will be available within a few months. Since box trees only grow slowly, fertilizing with compost reliably prevents harmful overdosing.
Time: From March/April, incorporate a maximum of 3 liters of compost per square meter every 3-4 weeks
Horn shavings
There is a high concentration of nitrogen in the hooves and horns of slaughtered cattle. Crushed or ground and added to compost, the organic fertilizer promotes growth.
Time: From March/April, apply one level tablespoon of each Buxus every 4 weeks
Azet Buxus fertilizer from Neudorff
Where it is not possible to produce your own compost due to space or time constraints, you do not have to forego purely organic fertilization. This product contains only plant and animal substances that are beneficial to the growth of a boxwood. The microorganisms it also contains make a valuable contribution to maintaining a biologically active garden soil.
Time: Administer 25-50 grams per plant in March/April and August/September
BioTrissol Buxus fertilizer from Neudorff
Since giving solid, organic fertilizer to potted plants is complicated, specialist retailers offer special liquid fertilizers. This preparation consists of purely natural ingredients in an NPK composition of 3+1+5 plus sulfur, trace elements and vitamins.
Time: From March to August 5 ml per 1 l of irrigation water weekly
Stop fertilizing from September Regardless of the boxwood fertilizer used, the administration of additional nutrients ends in August. From September onwards, the evergreen Buxus should have a sufficiently long window of time to prepare for the cold season. If young branches sprout after the beginning of autumn due to fertilization, they will not be mature and freeze to death by the first frost. This shortcoming weakens the boxwood as a whole, as the frozen shoot tips open the door to diseases and pests to the rest of the plant. Prudent hobby gardeners therefore administer the last dose of fertilizer in early to mid-August.
Potassium strengthens frost hardiness
In contrast to the previous nutrient composition, a potassium-concentrated fertilizer is used for autumn fertilization. Potassium has the special property of strengthening plant cells and lowering the freezing point of the cell sap. It is precisely this specific feature that is the focus of interest shortly before the start of winter, because nitrogen-driven growth is no longer desired. If you fertilize your boxwood for the last time of the year, we recommend one of the following products:
- Kalimagnesia, also known as patent potassium, with 30 percent potassium and 10 percent magnesium
- Fertilize organically with potassium-rich comfrey manure or pure charcoal ash
By the way, potassium fertilizer does its beneficial work not only on box trees. Almost every ornamental and useful plant benefits from the strengthening effect of the nutrient.
Conclusion
For a boxwood to present the desired dense, shiny green foliage, a well-considered nutritional concept contributes significantly to its success. The slow growth, the requirements for lime content in the soil and the regular topiary require a specific nutrient formulation that is not immediately compatible with other ornamental plants. In order to answer the question of what and when to fertilize boxwood, the question should be clarified in advance as to whether a purely organic or mineral nutrient supply is an option. If you are clear about this, simply choose from the fertilizer preparations presented here that have proven themselves well in practice. For outdoor plants it can be a solid fertilizer, while for potted plants liquid fertilizer is preferable. Anyone who follows a purely ecological approach to garden management will pamper their evergreen ornamental trees with compost, horn shavings or an organic product. Regardless of the fertilizer you prefer, the period generally extends from March to August. To ensure that frost-sensitive Buxus gets through the winter he althy and happy, the annual nutrient supply ends with a potassium-rich fertilizer.
