Has anyone got a tried and true method of propagating English box please?

We were given 6 english box plants a few years ago and decided to plant a hedge, but OH planted them too far apart, so we need to get some more. But as these original plants were on the way to tip when when we acquired them (ex-nursery stock that was nearly dead) and as I would rather spend my money on natives, I thought I’d have a go at striking some cuttings. But on doing a google search there seems to be a bit of variation as to method and potting mix.

There is always variation .. Everyone develops their own style according to local conditions but English Box is relatively easy from tip cuttings ..

roughbarked said:

There is always variation .. Everyone develops their own style according to local conditions but English Box is relatively easy from tip cuttings ..

mmm…that’s interesting…one site I saw said semi-hardwood cuttings and between Nov-Feb.

Seems the main thing is to take lots of cuttings to allow for a high percentage not succeeding. Either way I’ve got nothing to lose because the original plants didn’t cost me anything, and what ever I manage to strike is a bonus

Thing is that box hedges have to be clipped .. The clippings are all cuttings.

roughbarked said:

There is always variation .. Everyone develops their own style according to local conditions but English Box is relatively easy from tip cuttings ..

Would you strike the cuttings in a pot and place in a mini-glasshouse or direct into the soi?. On one forum (think it was Garden Express) someone suggested placing the cuttings directly in the soil (in an empty veg plot eg)

AnneS said:

roughbarked said:

There is always variation .. Everyone develops their own style according to local conditions but English Box is relatively easy from tip cuttings ..

Would you strike the cuttings in a pot and place in a mini-glasshouse or direct into the soi?. On one forum (think it was Garden Express) someone suggested placing the cuttings directly in the soil (in an empty veg plot eg)

All the methods depend upon the local conditions.

yes many cuttings grow well in the soil but there needs to be a good soil water supply.

roughbarked said:

Thing is that box hedges have to be clipped .. The clippings are all cuttings.

That is one of the reasons I would probably not normally have gone for a box hedge….I’m not a huge fan or formally clipped hedges, but as I said the plants cost me nothing and it was worth giving them a go to increase the “green” around here.

I prefer screens, along the lines of the one that featured GA at Darwin Airport (repeated last night)

Westringea makes a better hedge for Australian conditions IMHO and also lily pilly

roughbarked said:

Westringea makes a better hedge for Australian conditions IMHO and also lily pilly

I agree….I both of them in a different part of the garden. Need to do some propagating of them too.

Although a couple of years ago one of my Westringias was wrecked by the howling westerlies we get here. But fortunately enough of it remained intact for it to survive. We just cut it back fairly hard and it’s ok now

roughbarked said:

Westringea makes a better hedge for Australian conditions IMHO and also lily pilly

Hmmm, true if you want a biggish hedge, the good thing about the English Box is that you can make teeny tiny hedges, if that is your bag.

pain master said:

roughbarked said:

Westringea makes a better hedge for Australian conditions IMHO and also lily pilly

Hmmm, true if you want a biggish hedge, the good thing about the English Box is that you can make teeny tiny hedges, if that is your bag.

YOu still need to be where English box likes to grow.

Waste of money out here without permanent drip. Even then the sunburn can just be too much.

roughbarked said:

pain master said:

roughbarked said:

Westringea makes a better hedge for Australian conditions IMHO and also lily pilly

Hmmm, true if you want a biggish hedge, the good thing about the English Box is that you can make teeny tiny hedges, if that is your bag.

YOu still need to be where English box likes to grow.

Waste of money out here without permanent drip. Even then the sunburn can just be too much.

True but some Australians live in a area where English Box would work, and some live where Westringia are a waste of time. I like you would prefer Natives at every opportunity, but when someone is deadset about growing a English Box Hedge, then really, who are we to not give the advice that they want?

pain master said:

roughbarked said:

pain master said:

roughbarked said:

Westringea makes a better hedge for Australian conditions IMHO and also lily pilly

Hmmm, true if you want a biggish hedge, the good thing about the English Box is that you can make teeny tiny hedges, if that is your bag.

YOu still need to be where English box likes to grow.

Waste of money out here without permanent drip. Even then the sunburn can just be too much.

True but some Australians live in a area where English Box would work, and some live where Westringia are a waste of time. I like you would prefer Natives at every opportunity, but when someone is deadset about growing a English Box Hedge, then really, who are we to not give the advice that they want?

I believe I did .. advise that they grew easily enough from cuttings and that tip cuttings were probably preferable.

The usual method is, no rooting hormone required. Put a single
close line of box cuttings an inch or so apart straight into the
ordinary garden soil, in a sheltered lightly shaded cool position (empty
part of the veg plot perhaps), ^and water well. Don’t feed them, don’t
let them get completely dry^. Put in more cuttings than you need. Some
will die, but enough of them should be well rooted plants in a years
time, then you can transplant them to wherever you want the hedge.

or.. use tip cuttings with a lot more water in a slightly sunnier position, in tubes sunk to just above soil level.

True enough. I will retract my comments and say “Good Call”.

pm stands back and claps…

pain master said:

roughbarked said:

pain master said:

roughbarked said:

Westringea makes a better hedge for Australian conditions IMHO and also lily pilly

Hmmm, true if you want a biggish hedge, the good thing about the English Box is that you can make teeny tiny hedges, if that is your bag.

YOu still need to be where English box likes to grow.

Waste of money out here without permanent drip. Even then the sunburn can just be too much.

True but some Australians live in a area where English Box would work, and some live where Westringia are a waste of time. I like you would prefer Natives at every opportunity, but when someone is deadset about growing a English Box Hedge, then really, who are we to not give the advice that they want?

Evening PM and roughbarked. PM as you will see from my earlier posts, I would not normally have chosen to have English box, but as I received the 6 plants for nothing and I needed to get some planting done around here, I decided to have a go with them. But we planted them too far apart so I thought I might as well have a go at propagating rather than waste money buying them. I’d rather spend the money on fruit trees or natives.

Please note I am only on a rental property, another reason for not wanting to go overboard with purchases.

Anne S, take your cutings from the outside and inside of the hedge… the sides which face each of the little plants, maybe you should let those bits grow and then tie them together, this can close a gap…

roughbarked said:

The usual method is, no rooting hormone required. Put a single
close line of box cuttings an inch or so apart straight into the
ordinary garden soil, in a sheltered lightly shaded cool position (empty
part of the veg plot perhaps), ^and water well. Don’t feed them, don’t
let them get completely dry^. Put in more cuttings than you need. Some
will die, but enough of them should be well rooted plants in a years
time, then you can transplant them to wherever you want the hedge.

That’s what I read on Garden Express I think. So will try that