Are my boxwoods a lost cause?

5 years ago

Last fall, I planted a series of small boxwoods to create a hedge along the foundation of my house. They were (are) small -- maybe 18 inches tall in the pot. Thus, they weren't very expensive. The variety is "Winter Gem."

As luck would have it, we suffered one of the worst winters in years here in southern Wisconsin (Zone 5A). There were a few nights here at -20 to -25 degrees Fahrenheit and one where we hit at least -28. In addition, these boxwoods are planted on the south side of my house, which may have enhanced the winter burn I now have. On the bright side, there was decent snow cover, though the tops of the boxwoods still showed above the snow.

They all look the same, so I took a picture of one of them to give you an idea of what they look like, along with a close-up to give you a sense of what the upper foliage looks like close up. My question: Should I consider these a lost cause and start over? Or, assuming they aren't actually dead, is there a chance they'll make it despite the winter burn? Will the yellowed foliage gradually revert to green or should I prune it? What would you do?

Pete

Featured Answer

spartanapples

5 years ago

Tiaagrippa:

The nursery I work at in southern Wisconsin grows thousands of boxwoods. We too once grew Winter Gem I found that variety while normally winter hardy here discolors badly in the winter sun. It should green up better as temperatures warm up and the plant starts flushing new growth.

Just a note that ALL boxwood we grow in the field put on a late flush of growth in the fall. That new growth always comes out yellow in late winter/early spring. We often clip it off so we can dig and sell boxwoods early in the spring. It is not an issue and will happen most years.

Will winter gem survive the -22 we had this winter without any damage? That is a good question and too early to tell yet. Even it it does have some die back, do not panic. Let it color up this spring and flush new growth. At that time if you have dead branch tips then clip them back to live tissue. Judging from your photos, your plants really need a good shearing anyway the next few years to get them dense and in better shape. I presume what you purchased are container grown plants based on how they presently look in form.

Where I am at we grow at least 6 varieties of boxwood in SE WI and most years they are fine. The worst for off coloring in the winter are Winter Gem and Wintergreen. We have Wintergreen by a building (shade even in winter) and there they stay green. Yet in the field Wintergreen turn off color with the winter sun. They always come back in color once the weather warms up in late May.

The least hardy boxwood in my area is Green Mountain which will have more tissue death in cold winters than any other variety. The most cold hardy is Chicagoland Green which is one of the few that can survive even the cold winters of Minneapolis, MN.

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Comments (11)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
On the bright side, there was decent snow cover, though the tops of the boxwoods still showed above the snow.

==>> snow is one of the best insulators .... and being buried is perfect ... keeps things out of winter sun and wind ... which is the cause of most of the damage ... plus the roots are kept dormant .. as compared to bare soil.. that might freeze and thaw over a warmish winter ... of which.. surely this one wasnt.. lol ...

i would GUESS the exposed tips will be dead ... and i use the word guess .. because you are 6 to 8 weeks early ... to be deciding what part of the plants are viable ... just because you have spring fever.. doesnt mean its time for the plant to show you whats dead ... you need your soil to thaw ... and warn enough.. to get the roots out of dormancy.. and for buds to start growing.. and once that happens.. the plant will tell you whats dead .... in my cold z5 MI .. near ann arbor.. i would expect to know ... around mid to late may .... and i suspect... your should be about the same ...

ken

ps: pix in sun are hard to define on the computer ... but in the first pic.. it SEEMS.. like you can see more properly green leaves down low.. compared to yellower above ... and that MIGHT tell us.. .that it will recover ... even if it ends up losing part of the tops ... but again.. there is a lot of time for things to go downhill ... or hopefully... uphill ... patience ...
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
'Winter Gem' is a type of Korean boxwood and these are known for discoloring in winter....usually something in the yellow-orange-bronze tones. In fact, this is a common issue with many different types of box and IMO, one of their many less appealing features. You may get some tip dieback as well but most of that foliage looks very viable, if off colored, and should green up rapidly once warmer temperatures resume. Generally the discoloration and exposure to winter sun go hand in hand.

Although newly planted and not yet established, 'Winter Gem' is also one of the more cold hard varieties of box so should do well in your location. But it is hard to predict how first year plants will behave :-)
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nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
my boxwoods STAY green..mine are also Winter Gem..I would start over if I were you..if you have a guarantee on those boxwoods take them up on it..to me the base of your boxwood looks unhealthy..weak color..cupped leaves..
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Nicholsworth, your green boxwoods may be warmer weather or more shade.

I would likely wait until at least June since sometimes plants regrow from the roots even if the top has died back. The base leaves look fairly green to me.
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
NHBabs..I thought of that too..yes I am in a warmer zone than Pete..I wonder if boxwood's a good choice in Wisconsin?..if they get a lot of die back every year I wouldn't want it..in my experience boxwoods are slow growing (as compared to say an arborescens hydrangea)..I wouldn't want to see a stubby plant growing back slowly..especially if they're under warranty..
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Boxwoods are used extensively in cold winter climates as they are one of the very few broadleaved evergreen shrubs that will tolerate colder zones.

As babs suggested, I wouldn't do anything with these plants for the time being. Just wait to see what happens when the weather warms. And don't be too hasty even then for removal or cutting back. The resumption of normal coloring takes some time to develop. It may very well be that the only pruning necessary is the trimming of any damaged tip growth.
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
5 years ago
gardengal..I guess I'm not as patient as you and NHBabs!..I cut back a couple of boxwoods intending to rip out the stumps later..they've started growing but I hate the look..I WILL rip them out when it's warmer and the soil's dryer..I would rather see "nothing" than something unattractive..but of course I'll buy something pretty to plant there Lol..
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
5 years ago
To me, it looks like they are badly winterburned to the snowline. In my part of the world, box planted where it gets winter sun gets badly burned most winters. Planted where it gets shade, it's fine. So they will probably recover, but get bashed again next year, unless they are given shade somehow.
tgagrippa
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks to all who took the time to respond. I'm going to give my boxwoods some time to show their hand. I do believe they're still alive since there is some normal, green foliage below the winter-burned foliage. If it turns out they made it through this winter then I'm probably home free because this really was a brutal winter here. If they survive and I keep them, maybe I'd be wise to give them some protection with a burlap wrap or screen in future winters.
totoro z7b Md
5 years ago
I think Justin Brouwers is known for staying green all winter. Mine do even in sun, but I am warmer than you.

Are my boxwoods a lost cause?

spartanapples

Comments (11)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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tgagrippa
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totoro z7b Md

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Are my boxwoods a lost cause?

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