What is the difference between Green Mountain boxwood and green velvet boxwood?

Category: home and garden landscaping
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If that large overall size were not so important, “Green Velvetboxwood maintains its green color all winter, and matures at 3′ by 3′. “Green Mountainboxwood is virtually indistinguishable from Green Velevet, but matures at 4′ tall, and 3′ wide.



Subsequently, one may also ask, does green velvet boxwood smell?

Smell. While only certain varieties are known to smell like cat or dog urine, all boxwoods have been put into this category, and unfairly I might add! The Green Velvet variety does not stink and has many popular and positive attributes for your landscape or your garden.

One may also ask, do boxwoods stay green all year long? Most boxwood prefers full to partial sun and can be grown in zones 5 to 9. Unlike most others, Boxwood koreanes provides season color when the green leaves turn yellow-brown to purple in the winter. Boxwood wintergreen grows 3 to 4 feet high with dark green leaves that hold their bold color all year.

Also Know, how do you prune boxwood green velvet?

How to Prune a Green Velvet Boxwood

  1. Clip any dead, diseased or damaged branches, either back to the trunk or to healthy growth, with pruning shears.
  2. Sterilize the blades of the shears with rubbing alcohol after cutting any diseased branches before continuing pruning of the rest of the shrub.

How can I tell what kind of boxwood I have?

Look at your boxwood's leaves. Some boxwoods have deep green leaves, while others are bright green or yellow green. Check the size of the leaves as well and note their size and shape.

39 Related Question Answers Found

How far apart should I plant green velvet boxwood?

To plant a hedge of Green Velvet boxwood bushes, space the individual shrubs with their centers between 2 and 3 feet apart.

Does boxwood smell like cat pee?

Of course, some of you Debbie Downers out there will insist on reminding us that the foliage of dwarf English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa') smells like cat pee. This is indeed fitting, for as we all know, Egyptians worshiped cats.

How do you care for boxwood green velvet?

Green Velvet Boxwoods grow in full sun to part shade. They adapt well to a variety of well-draining soils. Water deeply twice weekly when newly planted to help the roots grow properly. Add 2-3 inches of mulch to help your new plants stay moist.

What are the smallest boxwoods?


Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'
A small, rounded evergreen shrub that forms tufts of growth resembling a cloud if left unpruned. The slow growing, dwarf form is ideal for edging and borders along pathways or around flower beds.

Why do boxwoods smell like cat pee?

You see, the one thing that most boxwood advocates fail to disclose is that boxwoods, at certain times of the year, smell like cat urine. Unneutered male cat piss to be exact. Avoid the Buxus sempervirens cultivars because they are have the strongest “acrid” odor. Seek out the species Buxus microphylla.

Which boxwood is best?

If you want a small, compact, low-growing shrub to form a hedge that serves as an accent or border along your walkway, fence line or planting beds, dwarf boxwood varieties are the best pick. The "Dwarf English" boxwood (Buxus sempervirens “Suffruticosa”) creates a border hedge approximately 1 to 2 feet in height.

How big do Green Mountain boxwoods get?

'Green Mountain' is a dense, upright, evergreen boxwood that typically grows to 2-3' tall over the first 10 years. This is a slow-growing hybrid shrub that may eventually mature to as much as 5-7' tall.

How do you rejuvenate boxwoods?

  1. Prune the hedge severely, which helps rejuvenate almost all old hedges.
  2. Clean out the interior of the hedge, which if it is old is likely filled with old branches, dead foliage and other debris.
  3. Fertilize the pruned hedge to help give it a nutritional boost to enhance its regrowth and rejuvenation.

How do you bring a boxwood back to life?


Whether or not a dry boxwood can be saved depends on the reason it is dry.
  1. Water the boxwood just enough to keep the soil moist.
  2. Add a 1-inch layer of mulch over the root zone of the shrub to help retain soil moisture.
  3. Prune out any dead or diseased branches with shears, cutting back to just outside a set of leaves.

How far can you cut back boxwoods?

Severe pruning of boxwoods can have mixed results, but you may be able to safely cut the shrubs back by 2 to 3 feet depending on their size, their health and the time of year you prune.

How do you keep boxwoods green?

Protect Boxwood Roots
This will allow plants to settle properly without becoming too deep. Provide a two- to three-inch layer of mulch to keep roots cool and conserve soil moisture. Extend the layer of mulch at least one foot beyond the canopy of the plant.

Can boxwoods be cut way back?

Boxwoods can be pruned any time but late summer and early fall. This is because pruning then will spur new growth that won't harden off in time for winter and be killed by the cold. Of course, the best way to avoid having to cut back overgrown boxwoods is not to let them get overgrown in the first place.

Can you cut boxwood to the ground?

Boxwoods do not respond well to severe pruning. They also are subject to boxwood decline, a disease attributed to improper planting and growing conditions. But after cutting it to the ground, the shrub could start to grow again from the stump, which will require regular removal of the new sprouts.

How do you take care of boxwoods?


Water deeply, as frequent, shallow irrigation will not reach the root zone of the growing boxwood. Until established, after about two years, boxwoods will need at least weekly watering. When planting boxwood, locate them in an area that is protected from winter wind to avoid a condition called winter bronzing.

What do you feed boxwoods?

Slow-release, balanced fertilizers are best for boxwood, and a granular form of urea fertilizer 10-6-4 is recommended. You also can use aged manure or cottonseed meal if your plant appears healthy, as long as you are making sure your boxwood has plenty of nitrogen.

Should I cover my boxwoods in winter?

Evergreens such as boxwoods may lose moisture from their leaves in winter faster than their roots can replace it from frozen soil. They are especially vulnerable to drying out in freezing temperatures and cold winds. It is generally not necessary to protect boxwoods with burlap except in certain circumstances.