How to treat Japanese buxus leaves turning orange?

[dhanz15]

It has been a year since these Japanese buxus were planted in my front yard (under full sun). They never grew an inch, and now, the leaves are turning bronze/orange. What could be the problem? The PlantIn app say that this is due to overwatering. If indeed true, how can I improve the drainage? 

I don't have the same issue with my Japanese buxus on the side yard. I thought Japanese buxus could tolerate full sun.

 

[EricL]

Hello @dhanz15 

Japanese Buxus can definitely tolerate full sun, but their growth and health heavily depend on soil conditions, particularly drainage. If your plants haven’t grown at all in a year and are now showing bronze or orange leaf tones, it’s likely a sign of root stress either from overwatering or poor drainage, which effectively leads to the same result: suffocated roots. This is more common in front yards where soil is often more compacted due to construction, clay-heavy subsoil, or landscaping layers.

Since your side yard plants are doing fine, it suggests the issue isn’t with the sun but with the soil structure in the front yard. To improve drainage, you can start by loosening the soil around each plant with a garden fork, going as deep as you can without damaging roots, to let air and water move more freely. If the soil feels heavy or clayey, mix in gypsum, coarse sand, and organic compost all of which are available at Bunnings. These will help break up the clay and improve water movement.

Adding a shallow gravel trench or even a layer of coarse scoria under the root zone during replanting (if you choose to dig them up and amend the bed properly) can also help prevent waterlogging. Mulch lightly with something breathable like pine bark to reduce water extremes but still let moisture escape.

Lastly, check your watering habits, these plants like consistent but not soggy conditions. Let the top 3–5cm of soil dry out before watering again. If the bronze leaves persist or worsen even after improving drainage, it might also be worth feeding the plants with a slow-release fertiliser like Osmocote for Hedging and Topiary to encourage new green growth once the roots recover.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[dhanz15]

Thanks Eric for the recommendation. My side yard plants are in raised garden bed and hence, waterlogging is not an issue. Will follow your suggestion and hopefully, the issue can be reversed.