Boxwoods shrubs are commonly used in landscaping since they can be pruned into small round or square hedges, single-stemmed trees, or into the most intricate topiaries. They can add curb appeal to your front yard by being used along driveways, walkways, and lawns. There are a ton of names for boxwoods since there are around 90 different types and more than 350 varieties. Some species can grow tall enough to create solid walls for privacy while others are dwarf varieties that remain small.
The uses for these evergreen bushes in landscaping are truly endless. Bonus, they are also considered low maintenance plants! They can grow in a variety of soil types and can tolerate both shade and sun. There are even varieties like Green Gem that can tolerate colder temperatures. Let’s dive in and explore some of the amazing ways these diverse plants can be used in your landscape!
1. Alternate Landscape Colors with Evergreen Boxwood Shrubs
Boxwoods can be used to create different landscaping designs in different seasons. For example, they’re a great addition to landscapes where plants with vibrant fall colors are plentiful. Reds, oranges, and yellows will look fantastic alongside the glossy, dark green leaves of this bush. When the beautiful fall colors give way to bare shrubs, your evergreen boxwoods will remain unchanged, giving life to your garden all winter.
2. Use Boxwood for All-Season Hedging
You can also combine lush, green boxwoods with vivid summer flowers to create a gorgeous summer landscape! Using flowers along with these hedges to create a border around your lawn can take your hedgerow to the next level. Plus, when the flowers fade away you’ll still have your boxwoods to provide that perfectly manicured border around grassy areas. Consider incorporating a variegated variety like Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’, which is a lighter green, to add even more color.
3. Create a Formal, English Garden Look
Boxwood topiaries are perhaps most often associated with the expansive, regal gardens of English castles. To bring that old English charm to your landscape, make topiaries the focal point with stone walkways surrounded by boxwood hedges. Get creative and add more interest by leaving negative space in the middle of hedgerows as shown in the photo above. Negative space can take your hedgerow to the next level.
4. Create Intricate Landscapes
To create a truly outstanding landscape, make sure to use unique shapes at multiple heights. An espalier can be used to train certain trees into a unique design along a flat plane. Espaliers are commonly found along walls and fences but you can make your garden stand out by using them as the centerpiece. Boxwoods can then be used to complement them at the ground level resulting in an absolutely stunning garden.
5. Make Creative Landscape Designs on a Budget
You don’t have to be a pruning guru, or spend a ton of money, to use boxwoods for inexpensive but creative landscape ideas. Boxwoods arranged in a simple layout and pruned into basic shapes can easily be enough to make an artistic, low-maintenance design. Add a little height variation into the equation and you can produce a unique, budget-friendly landscape around your home.
6. Hedge Front of the House
Hedges are the go-to type of landscape to add curb appeal to the front of your house. If you keep them pruned, they help your landscape tie into the trim and other straight lines found on your home. Use boxwoods as the foundation for your hedging design and incorporate other colors and shapes to add even more interest.
7. Hedge a Front Yard Walkway
Lining a beautifully designed stone walkway with boxwood shrubs can make your stonework pop. They can create an inviting feeling by drawing the line of sight up to your front door. A green border surrounding your walkway also helps to soften the overall look of hardscapes.
Boxwoods aren’t just good plants for hedgerows along walkways, but can also add a unique touch by being grown as individual shrubs. You can then incorporate other topiary shapes such as circles, squares, or cones to accentuate your walkway, making it warm and inviting to guests. Consider using dwarf boxwood varieties to reduce maintenance and ensure shrubs don’t grow together in the long run.
If you’re aiming for a more rustic appeal, boxwoods can provide shades of green to compliment the brown colors found in boulders and mulch. Lining your walkway with small bushes makes it feel welcoming and brings attention to your stunning rock garden landscaping. Since boxwoods are evergreens, they can also help keep your hardscapes from looking dull and cold in the winter.
8. Use Boxwoods for Lawn Edging
A common use for boxwoods is edging. For example, you can use them along the length of your green lawn. Prune them into a small round shape to add more interest, versus a typical solid square hedge. Leaving some space between individual shrubs at the top and bottom of the hedgerow adds dimension to the overall look. Just look at this image above. This cute edging design does for landscaping what a beautiful bead necklace does for a woman’s neck – it adds charisma.
9. Hedge the Property
You can also use boxwoods to create lot boundaries. This is a great alternative to the stereotypical white picket fence which was once considered a symbol of the American dream home. While many boxwood hedges use sharp, square edges, consider rounding them off to soften their look and create a very different curb appeal.
10. Create Landscaping Privacy Walls
Source: https://freshpatio.com
