Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
Replies
Hi Rob,
In years gone by yes it would, but not anymore. Too many problems with pest and diseases. There has been quite a bit of discussion on here for a replacement. Teucrium seems to be a good solution fo what your looking for, as others have pointed out it has the qualities needed to mimic boxwood, without being a direct replacement. Theres plenty of info on the web or ask your local nursery for varieties.
Best
Paul
As with Paul -- i wouldnt personally plant any buxus until some of the massive issues with it have been 'bred' out etc -- It is the cheapest and best option in many ways -- but you would need to advise the client about problems that could crop up -- or put it very clearly in your terms and conditions -- also be handy if you or someone you knew would be able to apply all the chemicals needed if and when the problems start. Whatever price advantage buxus had is massively eclipsed when you take into consideration the probable on going / 'endless' treatments .
Hi Rob,
It also depends on how wet the soil is. If the drainage isn't great buxus will redden and die back. If the hedge is next to a path the water can run back into the trench drowning it. There are issues with buxus but you need to check the area in which you are planting. if blight is in the area then do not plant it. I have used it for hedging over the last few years without any issues. The buxus feeds do help to strengthen the plants but they are a little expensive.
It also depends on the style that you want. If you are in a lot of sun and want an informal hedge then you could use lavander. If it's a taller hedge choisya or even cotoneaster. If it's a formal hedge ilex crenata is a good alternative to box but a lot more expensive. You coukd think about Sarcococca Confusa (Sweet box) which is scented over winter. Again a great option but more expensive.
Hi Rob,
Watch out for sarcoccocca if its in full sun. It really needs to be in full shade to thrive, in sun it has to be kept moist and even then it can quickly look frazzled. A great great plant mind.
Call me boring by any means but I reckon you can't beat a nice privet hedge. Quick to establish, disease resistant, evergreen, can be cut back hard and they shoot out again, cheap.......... very attractive when they're cut every few weeks during the growing season..... mind you, some people won't want to be trimming the hedge every few weeks.
This is without taking consideration of box caterpillar which many people arent aware of out of the SE and london -- lots of people will know about it this year !!
The main issue with box is that the problems havent reached all areas of the uk -- but take note of all of europe ! These issues are in the UK and will spread most of the UK in the next few years - to use it is risky without informing clients of the potential issues
Privet isnt problem free either -- and its massively quick growing -- there are many many buxus alternatives -- b
ut all have pros and cons -- nothing is the same -- so all alterantives need clarifying to clients
My wife was watching this weeks Gardeners World tv show on catchup this morning with the feature about planting hedges around two water tanks as a garden feature.
She muttered at me when I rewound it and started it again, I said I’m sure I saw a plastic toilet go past in the background. Sure enough if you watch what is going on in the background the top of a plastic toilet can be seen passing by on the other side of the fence.
Apart from that there were dome alternatives to box discussed.
Andy