Boxwood transplant

Last spring I transplanted 3 boxwoods. Their roots went on and on! I chopped some pretty major roots, even though I dug at least a 6' wide and 3' deep.

Two questions

1) Only one is thriving, the other two are limping along. Can I save them?

2) From the location that I removed them, there are many (two dozen) sprigs coming up through the mulch. Can I transplant these little plants with any success?

 

holly tone should help the soil of the newly transplanted area (and yes you can apply it now). Just wondering what type of soil did you transplant to - moist, sun etc?

By limping along - does that mean the leaves are yellowish or lacking fullness? If yellow it could mean an iron issue in the soil. The lack of fullness could be b/c of the transplant - i'd give it another year - also Boxwoods LOVE acidic soil.

 

Are you sure about the Holly Tone application being ok to do now? In basic terms, I thought Holly Tone as a fertilizer? If it is principally a fertilizer, then it would mean that it is also food for the plant. General idea is not to fertilize in the winter I thought?

Maybe I am thinking too broadly but that is always the rule I have followed. Boxwoods are also dormant in the winter? But yes, I completely agree with idea that around here, the Boxwoods seriously need Holly Tone...

 

I wouldnt apply any type of fertilizer now, or in the spring. Any transplanted tree/shrub needs time to re-acclimate to its new condition, and will under go stress from being dug. The best thing for plants is water. Water water water. Even in the winter, as long as the ground is not frozen. Applying fert, even something mild, puts further stress on the plant, in the midst of it trying to recover from transplant stress.

Boxwoods, amercian / english / korean all stress when transplanted. Make sure any leaves/debris are cleaned out from the base of the plant as this can harbor insects like mites and leaf minors.

Boxwoods generally take on a winter color, that can range from coppery green to yellowish color. Be patient, water water water and see what happens by May. The color should improve, and new growth should be apparent. The first year on transplanted shrubs, the new growth production can slow - and for a boxwood, that can mean very little new growth.

 

I had the same concern, until I asked Beth (a master gardener @ greenworks and my gardening guru who highly recommended both a spring and winter application). Hollytone in general does have fertilzing properties, but more importantly it also has minerials that condition the soil.

• Hollytone can be applied in the winter/fall - the package recommends 1/2 dosage (of the spring summer application).

FWIW - I think my evergreens in my landscaping speak for the benefits of applying hollytone twice a year.

 

Twice a year for established plants. I dont think applying fertilizer to newly transplanted boxwoods is the right answer. As a International Society of Arborists certified arborist, and someone who has been in the industry for over 18 years, I think applying even a mild fert like holly tone will do nothing but force growth that the root system can not maintain.