How to treat exposed boxwood roots?

[dio612]

Is the root exposed? If so what should i do to fix it?

  

[JacobZ]

Hi @dio612,

Exposed roots on boxwood shrubs are fairly common and, in most cases, not something to be overly concerned about. As boxwoods mature, their roots can naturally grow closer to the surface, especially in compacted or shallow soils. Environmental factors such as erosion, heavy foot traffic, or inadequate mulching can also lead to roots becoming visible over time.

I would simply add a layer of mulch 100mm thick, over the entire garden. It will help to protect the roots and will break down over time, adding usable nutrients to the soil.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[dio612]

I have some sugar cane mulch (Oreco 26m2 Sweet Garden Sugar Cane Mulch) would that work, or is there a better alternative?

Before mulching should I remove all the branch/leaves debris around the shrub?

When mulching do I need to leave some space from the shrubs' base or pack it up to the base?

Is it better to sprinkle some slow release fertiliser before mulching as well?

[JacobZ]

Hi @dio612,

Yes, sugar cane mulch would be fine.

There's no real need to remove the branches and leaf debris as they will naturally break down underneath the mulch.

It's usually best to leave a small gap of around 50mm around the base to prevent moisture sitting in the mulch from sitting directly on the trunk for prolonged periods. This moisture can, over time, cause rot, so it is best to leave a gap.

If you'd like to add some slow-release fertiliser, it would be worth doing so before mulching. Ultimately, it would be effective either way, but if it is below the mulch, it will be closer to the soil where it needs to end up.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob