The Budget-Friendly Shrub That Makes Your Home Entrance Hedge Look High End

Have you ever wished you could get your front entrance to look like a high-end estate with top-of-the-line hedges, without spending a fortune on topiaries? Then you're in luck, because there is one budget-friendly shrub that will elevate your landscape from drab to fab almost instantly. The 'Green Velvet' boxwood (Buxus 'Green Velvet') is an affordable, slow-growing shrub that is known for its dense green foliage. This popular evergreen shrub is perfect for plant sculpting. Not only is it easy to grow and care for, but it can also be trained into any shape without leaving ugly gaps or branches showing. That being said, you will still need to be mindful of pruning to prevent damage.

'Green Velvet' boxwood is a perennial that grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8 and costs around $20 for a 1-quart pot or around $55 for a 3-gallon pot, though prices may vary depending on retailer and region. No matter which size you purchase initially, your boxwood will grow to be up to 3 feet high and 3 feet wide when fully mature. It grows best when planted in full sun or partial shade with moist, well-draining soil.

The 'Green Velvet' boxwood is a great option if you are looking for a shrub to make your landscape look great all year. When styling your 'Green Velvet' boxwoods, the possibilities are endless. Most people will use them to line walkways in beds or borders, but they can grow well in containers, too. For added emphasis, add landscape lighting between each shrub. You can also cut them into almost any shape without damaging the dense foliage. Even though they are easy to care for, there are some mistakes everyone makes when growing boxwoods, and pruning at the wrong time is one of them.

Pruning is one of the most important things to consider when you're styling your boxwoods. You will want to prune the plant once per year in the late winter or early spring. Pruning involves selecting branches for removal that impact the plant's health and growth. It also promotes growth throughout the season. 

To create shape and style, you will need to consider shearing more regularly throughout the season. This is what will take your entryway from humble to luxurious. Shearing is focused only on the outer branches to maintain the shape. Some growers will advocate for one method over the other. However, if you are looking for that high-end landscape, you should combine both methods for healthy, stylish shrubs.