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Buxus balls

pinklarapinklara Posts: 29
in Plants
I want to make some box balls, but unsure how to start. I planted some very small (8-inch tall, 9cm pot) little box plants individually in some borders a few months ago, with plans to turn each one into a ball slowly. However when I googled it, it seemed to say that you have to plant several plants together so they knit together then prune into a ball after that. Can I make a single plant into a ball? Or do I need to buy more and plant in clusters? Thank you!

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053
    you can do it was you'd planned, it'll just take a bit longer then the "group of 4 method" 
    As you've already planted them, I'd just let them get on with doing their own thing.
    Devon.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,193
    I've done it several times from just one plant, you do need some patience, then they suddenly seem to grow faster and turn into balls quite nicely. It helps if you mulch well with well-rotted manure as they're quite greedy feeders.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • pinklarapinklara Posts: 29
    ah thanks! Ok will leave them as they are, and be patient :) should I wait for a while before starting to try to shape them? They only have about 3 branches each so there is not much to work with now but I need to get them more bushy, I guess?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053
    Maybe nip the tips off each shoot as growth starts. This should make them bushier.
    Devon.
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