Yes same shrubs as planted last year. OK so the shrubs do need every leaf like a tree. I know I should not trim a tree until all leaves have developed, I was thinking along the same lines for the shrubs as they had dropped a lot of leaves. The trimming of brown tips was in reference to the branch tips not the leaves. Who in the world would have the time to trim each leaf? A few of the branches had tips browning and the browning seemed to be going down the branch, so trying to use common sense I trimmed only those individual branches down to the green. Those branches had new buds developing and now has buds at the trimmed tips. As for a clay bucket yes, you can create a container like conditions. I planted shrubs with shallow root systems so I choose to stop at two foot. I think it depends on how deep you dig, on what you are planting and you need to make sure you follow the standard recommendation on mixing in native soil in the back fill. I used a garden soil that had clay in the mix already. Plus the area dug out is about 11 ft long and width ranging from 21 inches to 5 ft, plus a smaller 2 ft wide 8 ft long area. Several of the shrubs are on a slight slope, although all were planted on a built up mounds. There should not be "container" conditions, there should be lots of room for excess water to flow away from the roots systems. We just got done with a rainy week and they are budding out like crazy right now. A lot of thought went into planting them just not a lot of chemicals. I confess, I have loved shrubs to death before, one of the reasons I did so little when I planted these last year. The garden area has been in place for 5 years and last year was the first time I had a mushroom explosion. Only things different was new shrubs and fresh mulch (which I remove and replace each year). I have searched the forum for info on mushroom blooms and mulch and have not found any similar experiences posted. So I replaced the last years mulch with a pine bark mulch this past weekend, I am hoping no mushroom explosion this year. Due to last years experience I will do an acid feeding, just earlier in the season then last year. They seem to be recovering however it is still a waiting game. I have read some problems will cause sudden death in late summer so I will post later this fall if they made it through the summer and so on, for anyone interested in these shrubs.

Green Velvet is the hardier of the two, surviving at or nearly at -30 here in Iowa. Green Mountain would be better if you were looking for a hedge that can be pruned into an upright or conical fashion as it is more pyramidal compared to the rounder Green Velvet. Green Mountain may work for you in 5b, but where we are here (a solid 5a with sometime 4b temps or colder), Green Mountain will die back to the snow line once it reaches below -20 to -23. If there is a chance that you will reach these temps consider something else. Also, be aware that there is a boxwood blight circulating the Eastern U.S. and becoming more prevalent in the Midwest. Your plants will need to be certified blight free. Most production nurseries have started doing this but check just to be sure.

Oh, Schoolhouse! You do so much better job of keeping your boxwood sheared than I do. I've not tackled a spiral, but I'm crazy about meatball topiaries, and once in a while I prune the meatballs into chickens or something fun. Nell

I'm glad that you're happy with your boxwoods..I took a bag of clippings to the Marion County Extension Office..I have leaf minors..they admitted that my stems looked like blight but we broke open a leaf that was swollen and there was a leaf minor inside!..I don't like spraying insecticides so I'm removing the worst ones and clipping others..mine appear to be fine but when you look CLOSELY you see discoloration and the interior looks imperfect..it's sad to see them disappear but I don't want to be spraying chemicals to keep them..