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Help and advise needed

Zahid_63cZahid_63c Posts: 121
in Plants
I have recently planted a bay tree and two buxus cones,I'd just like to know when they should be pruned and what I should be mindful of as far as looking after them/feeding is concerned 
Also any suggestions as to what to put in between buxus and trees to give borders some colour 
It's not a cottage border more of a minimalist contemporary border 
Was considering Cordiyln 

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Posts

  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    If it’s a sunny border, you could consider lavender or nepeta. There’s also Festuca glauca. Some photos below — obviously the box is shaped differently but they just give an idea of how the plants look together.

    I’ve never had a bay tree, but the links below have some good tips for box (note they’re from a commercial website). Look out for box blight and box tree moth caterpillars. 

    https://www.buxusworld.com/en/watering-box-plant/ — being in a narrow raised bed, your box plants are effectively container plants

    https://www.buxusworld.com/en/pruning-buxus-plants/

    https://www.buxusworld.com/en/boxwood-blight/

    https://www.buxusworld.com/en/box-tree-caterpillar/


    Other random tips, selected from https://www.kiwicare.co.nz/advice/garden/buxus-care/:
    • Buxus prefer locations with part to full sun and neutral to alkaline soil.
    • Water your ground planted Buxus frequently for the first year until the roots are well established. Potted Buxus will always need to be watered frequently, especially in warm weather. When watering your Buxus only water the roots and not the foliage.
    • You can add mulch around the plants if you wish but keep it well away from the stems.
    • Regularly clear away leaf litter below your Buxus, because this may harbour disease.
    • Before trimming your Buxus hedge or topiary wash your cutting equipment, then sterilise them with methylated spirit or dilute bleach and let dry.
    • Do not trim in hot sunny conditions.
    • After trimming, run a grass rake or cane lightly over the Buxus to dislodge clippings and then remove all clippings from under the Buxus.


    Cambridgeshire, UK
  • Zahid_63cZahid_63c Posts: 121
    Thank you ever so much
    Anymore advice welcome 
    I could potentially get lavender balls,don't know if they can be bought at garden centres
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I don't think the border is wide enough for cordylines - the leaves need space to arch out if they are to look their best, and they look horrible if the leaves are crushed against a wall or chopped off.
    Something with white variegated foliage that you can clip into formal balls might give a nice contrast with the dark green box and bay and the dark slate. The variegated Euonymus might work (eg Emerald Gaiety) and young plants are widely available and inexpensive.
    Young lavenders naturally form a rounded shape (you don't need to buy specially-trained ones) but they tend to get straggly and woody after several years, so you might need to replace them from time to time.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think this would look fantastic  ... and it would fill the space so you don't need the slate.  
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/hakonechloa-macra-aureola/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Zahid_63cZahid_63c Posts: 121
    I've seen eunonymus around in garden centres but never in ball shape
    I'd rather buy something ready but it seems that isn't a choice
    Are they easy to prune into shape
  • Zahid_63cZahid_63c Posts: 121
    I've just spent a fair bit on the slates so I'll have to keep them
    Is the Japanese grass evergreen 
  • Zahid_63cZahid_63c Posts: 121
    What is this called and how will it go?  
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Either phormium or cordyline never know which but JennyJ has pointed out the drawback. 
  • Zahid_63cZahid_63c Posts: 121
    It seems to be wide enough(0.6m)for something like this as it doesn't grow out further
    I was initially considering phormium but that would work 
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Some hebes are a nice ball shape. I have a Baby Marie which will grow to 40cm x 40cm 
    https://www.gardenbeauty.co.uk/hebe

    The only problem with a cordyline is it grows tall as in your photo and that might upset the visual balance in your border
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