Before investing your money, efforts and time in a boxwood hedge, I would recommend reading up on a new, and very aggressive, pathogen affecting boxwood - boxwood blight. A close-trimmed boxwood hedge is most susceptible, and certain varieties are more susceptible than others. Since the fungal spores do not travel far in the air, it is most often introduced into plantings with infected plants or equipment (think landscape truck beds as well as pruners, even gloves and clothing). Once in the soil, they can persist for a very long time, apparently. There are several university sites with information. One is linked below. Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell Boxwood Blight Fact Sheet

Joanne, I just found this post and comments thread while searching for boxwoods that don't smell bad and discovered your beautiful walkway looking EXACTLY the way I want mine to look. I was out looking at shrubs to do this today in fact. How long did it take for the hedge to grow together? Does it smell bad as some people feel about boxwood? Why did you decide on the green ice mini roses instead of knock out roses? I find the regular knock out roses to be to large for this look anyway and the knock out drift roses I've planted aren't doing very well. Where did you find the mini roses and so many of them? My sidewalk curves similar to yours and I just took out the dwarf Japanese hollies that I tried which never flourished. I found enough Green Velvet boxwood at Home Depot today at $17 each for my 30+ sidewalk but wonder if they will be as good as getting the plants from a nursery (and paying more). I am glad you went with your vision and I'm happy that you have shared it here as it's the same one I have. Now I'm encouraged to get the plants in and hope it doesn't take 5 years to be as pretty as yours but I suppose it will be worth the wait if it does. One last question - where do you live? I live in Northern Virginia. Thanks very much.

We have had two summers of 100ð + temps. One over 50 days, the next over 30 days. My Green Velvet has tolerated both and looks good this year, even exposed to winter sun. It is untrimmed, as you can see. Gets my vote. hortster

welcome .. a pic would sure help ... i lived a nightmare of having to deal with mom and dads 65 feet of privets.. shearing them twice a year from the age i was old enough to use the electric shears ... and you are considering 3 times that length ... let me be clear.. you should think long and hard about the work involved in your dream hedge.. or the cost of hiring out the job twice a year forever ... every plant has an annual growth rate.. usually it is suggested that faster growing things.. develop problems faster ... and then peak and ebb faster ... its a fools errand to make decisions on what is fastest ... you also fail to mention the potential width of the space.... how much room do you have .... other than 140 feet long?? and there is nothing you can do .. to make things grow faster .... if snow is going to happen .. and there is plowing involved.. it is going to be problematic ... though i can understand the 'look' you are going for.. IMHO.. its a bit of a newbie dream ... reality can be a whole different universe .. short of a staff of gardeners to do the labor .... more facts .. and pix .. please ... ken