Q.How can I make my boxwood survive in a flower bed in a zone 5 winter (almost zone 4)?
I live in a zone 5 and I love boxwoods. I have been able to keep 1 alive by putting burlap around it for 2 years. However, I would like a taller boxwood in a raised flower bed (part of my front yard landscaping) and was told by my local garden centre that it’s not possible in a flower bed. I was wondering if this was absolutely true or if there is something I can do to help it survive our winters (sometimes up to -25 Celsius). Thank you!
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Unfortunately, unless you intend to keep it in container, and bring it in for the winter, this will be almost impossible.
As you have already probably seen, it can be a bit of a task to keep something alive that it right on the edge of where it can survive. Adding another element against you will result in a quicker death than the previous attempt.
You may want to find another similar shrub to replace it with. This article will offer options that are fully hardy in your area: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-4/zone-4-evergreen-shrubs.htm