Boxwood. worth digging?

[Kullas]

Here's an example of Japanese holly. Almost identical leaves, completely different stem color.


View attachment 433505

I will have to wait a little more to be sure of the color but these look to be of purple color.

 

[Kullas]

If it makes it through the summer ensure to protect it well during the winter. Maybe healed in next to your home. Good luck it looks awesome

Its in part sun now with less than 3 hours full sun right now. So far its pulling through like a champ. It will definitely be on the ground and tucked in mulch.
Being that it dont drop its leaves. How much sun should it get in the winter?

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I've not had many for long but two different ones recovered only to not make it through the winter. I actually just worked this one for the first time. It stayed tucked on the north side of my home this winter. It looks healthy so I just started reducing some branching and carving back the dead stuff

 

[Kullas]

I've not had many for long but two different ones recovered only to not make it through the winter. I actually just worked this one for the first time. It stayed tucked on the north side of my home this winter. It looks healthy so I just started reducing some branching and carving back the dead stuff View attachment 433556View attachment 433557

Those look good. Can't wait to see them after you work your magic on them.

 

[PaulH]

removing all green growth can kill it.

Not true. I've dug up dozens of boxwoods and always cut off all the foliage. They bud back within a few weeks. I've never lost one.

 

[BrianBay9]

Not true. I've dug up dozens of boxwoods and always cut off all the foliage. They bud back within a few weeks. I've never lost one.

Can be true. I've lost limbs cutting boxwood back past the last green. I've seen boxwood never recover from cutting past all foliage. They usually do fine, but sometimes can surprise you. There may be other, unrecognized factors involved. So it comes down to how much risk you want to take. Safe choice, leave some green. Pretty safe choice (but sometimes get bit in the butt) cut off all green.

 

[rockm]

Not true. I've dug up dozens of boxwoods and always cut off all the foliage. They bud back within a few weeks. I've never lost one.

So have I. I 've seen it kill some trees. Most are fine, some are not. This isn't a boxwood anyway. It's a holly (probably yaupon).

FWIW, I work with many old boxwood, some as old at 200 years. Those can backbud from old wood with little problem out of sheer momentum. This can greatly depend on growing conditions and boxwood type. English box --(the regular variety-Buxus sempervirens) can be touchy depending on time of pruning and condition. Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla) (along with its cultivars like Korean, wintergreen, etc.) not so touchy.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

FWIW, I work with many old boxwood, some as old at 200 years. Those can backbud from old wood with little problem out of sheer momentum. This can greatly depend on growing conditions and boxwood type. English box --(the regular variety-Buxus sempervirens) can be touchy depending on time of pruning and condition. Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla) (along with its cultivars like Korean, wintergreen, etc.) not so touchy.

I know we are bouncing back and forth between holly and boxwood discussions, but I can confirm that you can completely defoliate Yaupon or Japanese holly and it will back bud everywhere. If you cut back large branches (more than 1" diameter) you may get die-back, but not always, depending on the strength of the tree.