Boxwoods are dying. I have searched and determined that it could be any number of problems. I understand I probably cannot replace the dead shrubs immediately. Will I need to change out all 13 shrubs? What would be a possible easy shrub to replace them with? Do not think I want more than 1 variety. Thank you very much.
Whether of not you need to replace all of them, would depend on several factors, such as if they were all affected, what they were affected with and if it was treatable.
As a replacement, I would consider Japanese Holly. They look similar but are not susceptible to the same diseases.
I have several mature English boxwoods, 40+ years. I have lost three in the last 3 years and the remaining four took a severe beating in the Washington DC 28 inches of snow, one losing its entire center. While new leaves are coming out on the now exposed branches in the center, some 10% of the remaining branches have leaves that are turning orange, then bronze and finally dying. Can you help with what may be happening?
It could be a fungus but it also be from winter burn. Treat the plant with a fungicide and that should help clear it up. You can also remove the dying foliage.
I don't know much about gardening in general, but I really want to give it a try. The house I currently live in has nothing in the front yard but weeds, rocks, a bunch of succulents, and a small cluster of tulips that come up every spring. The soil looks a bit dry in a few places, but I haven't actually touched it, so I could be wrong. With the amount of weeds and small trees that have been growing there, I'm guessing it's ok. I want to plant a few boxwood shrubs, a smoke bush, and a few other leafy plants and flowers there. So my question is, after weeding the area and moving the large rocks, what should my next step be? Should I do anything to the soil, and if so, exactly how do I go about doing it?
The following articles should be of some help to you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/landscaping-shrubs-for-nearly-any-purpose.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-types-and-weeds.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
What does yellow leaves on my boxwood shrub mean?
It could be a few things. One is mites. They are too small to see, but do cause damage like that. Another is a fungus. Again, there are several kinds, blight fungus being the most probable cause. Finally, if it's been newly planted, then it could be suffering from transplant shock. Giving it additional water will help with this.
Fortunately, there is an organic solution that treats mites and fungus (and other insect pests, just in case). Treat the affected shrubs with neem oil once a week for a month. Here is more information on neem oil:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
Either not enough water, or to much water. Is the boxwood well establish? How old is it? I could better answer this if I had a little more to go on.
We were away for 6 weeks when we should have medit (after Derby Day), and we now have more new growth.
Pruning encourages new soft growth that is susceptible to frost damage, so hold off trimming your boxwoods till late spring if you plan to do hard pruning; light tip pruning, however, can be done any time.
How do you trim boxwoods without damaging them?
This article should help with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/trimming-boxwood-bushes.htm
I have curled leaves on boxwood plants. What does this mean?
Curled leaves are the work of the boxwood psyllid, a small sucking insect that appears about the time the new foliage appears in spring. Growth is stunted and the leaves curl in response to psyllid feeding. Tolerate the damage unless most of the branch tips are infected; psyllids rarely affect the long term health of boxwood. When necessary, control psyllids by spraying plants thoroughly with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap as soon as they appear in spring.