Collected Boxwood

I happened to run across a fellow ripping several massive boxwoods out of some landscaping with a truck chain. Naturally, I asked what he intended to do with them and was advised he intended to throw them away.

Of course I said no your not and began loading a couple of 4 foot by 4 foot boxwoods into the back of my mini cooper. Should have seen that mini cooper riding down the road with massive boxwoods hanging out the back. My wife now has proof I'm nuts.

I ultimately went back for four more. So, I now have four in my yard as landscaping and two in bonsai pots.

I've been reluctant to post any pics because of the extremely harsh treatment I put them through by cutting the canopy back by at least two thirds and past virtually all green growth, removing all the clay from the root zone, cutting the root zone back by at least two thirds and stuffing them in bonsai pots. I figured they'd likely die, but given the fact I didn't have any training boxes made, had no where else to heal them in and that it was 11 o'clock when I finally arrived back home, in the bonsai pots they went.

Well, they are now budding all over the place. So much for boxwoods not budding back when you cut them back past green growth.



I think the one below has the most promise. The trunk is approximately five inches across with a well developed nebari. It is approximately 25 to 30 inches tall. Eventually I will bring it in, but for now, I'll let it grow a few seasons to gain strength.

Really nice, the branching is nicely proportional too. Hope it fills out for you. Nice find.

It is a nice find, please show us the others and keep us posted with their progress. As I'm sure you saw in Jim's boxwood/taxus thread there are differing opinions (and rightly so) on how far to cut back.

Russell Coker wrote:As I'm sure you saw in Jim's boxwood/taxus thread there are differing opinions (and rightly so) on how far to cut back.

What Russell said, but I am hoping your tree back bud well. It is a very nice tree.

That boxwood already has a really nice structure! Great piece of material. I would hope you'll keep us posted as it develops...and I wouldn't mind seeing the others as well!