Using Boxwood Shrubs to Define an Outdoor Room

A new trend in home and garden living is to define living spaces outside. Known as "outdoor rooms", these spaces range from the simple and obvious (think of your deck or patio) to the ornate and elaborate. 

The American or Common boxwood shrub is by far the most useful and versatile of plants for creating outdoor rooms. Its dense growth habits and the ease with which it prunes into shape make it ideal.   

Boxwood shrubs can be particular about their planting, fertilization, and maintenance needs. Numerous sources exist, both online and in print, to help you care properly for your boxwood shrub, but the most important thing to remember is that boxwood shrubs have shallow, broad root systems. Digging too close to a boxwood can damage this fragile root system, and the result will be damage to all or part of your boxwood shrub. Carpet your outdoor living area in grass, which will need to be cut but will not require digging of any kind, or with a porous material, such as river gravel, which will allow water to reach the root system. It is not recommended that you floor your living area with brick or paving stones, as this may not allow sufficient water and nutrients to reach the root system.   

If you want to include flowers or ornamentals, they should either be established early, at the same time as the boxwood shrubs, or else they should be kept in pots. Annuals, which would require replanting every year, should only be planted in pots. Remember that any digging or turning of the soil near your boxwood shrubs is likely to damage the root system. 

When laying out the design for your outdoor room, remember to allow room for your boxwood shrubs to grow. It may be tempting to plant them right next to each other, so that they close off the desired space immediately, but a little patience goes a long way in defining an outdoor living area. When planting your boxwood shrubs, the hole should be only as deep as the rootball, but twice as wide. This gives you a good general indication of how far apart to space your shrubs, as well. 

Boxwood makes a pleasing and rewarding hedge for your outdoor room. A little attention to proper care and a little TLC will give you an outdoor room you can enjoy for years to come.