Hey everyone! I'm a city gal who just bought a house during the pandemic and I'm starting to plan some landscaping. I want to plant a row of boxwoods along the front and driveway side of my house, but I'm torn about where to buy them. Do I go for round or square? My landscaper quoted me $280 per boxwood and said I'd need 12 to 14 of them, which adds up to almost $4K. But I found them online for $60-$80 each, which totals under $1000 for 16! What's the deal? Also, can someone explain the difference between 1-gallon, 3-gallon, 5-gallon, or even quart sizes? I know they'll take time to grow, and I'm cool with that if it means saving over $3K. What am I missing? Also, we have a lot of deer in the area!
5 Answers
It sounds like your landscaper might be quoting for larger, more mature plants. You should definitely get a second opinion from other nearby nurseries. Local plants are often healthier since they've adjusted to the area. Just remember, larger plants will cost more but can fill out the space faster; smaller ones are cheaper but will take longer to grow.
A picture of your yard would help! Also, I'm curious why you specifically want boxwoods. Are they your favorite for some reason over, say, flowering shrubs or other hedges?
I was wondering the same thing! What is it about boxwoods that you like?
You’re looking for a green look, got it! But definitely consider other options too, I'm sure you'll find something great!
As a new homeowner, here's a pro tip: wait for mid-summer sales (around July 4th) when plants usually go on clearance. You can save a lot! Just keep an eye on watering.
That sounds smart! I might wait until after I finish other house projects before I plant, so I don’t have to move them around.
Definitely consider the boxwood blight before committing to these plants! If you really want boxwoods, look for blight-resistant varieties like NewGen. Otherwise, Japanese holly is a great alternative that looks similar but is disease-resistant.
Wow, that landscaper's quote seems really high! If you can get boxwoods for around $60 each, that's way better—ask your contractor about the size though. I wouldn’t go for anything smaller than 10 gallons since boxwoods are slow growers. Are you aiming for privacy, aesthetics, or both?
I'm in CT too! If you're just after aesthetics, I'd recommend checking out local nurseries for 2-foot boxwoods. They seem more affordable than what your landscaper said.
Good point! I just called a local nursery and they have 2-foot boxwoods for $150 each, which sounds reasonable to me!