Box hedges….i want to grow a dense hedge around my garden, they are coming bare rooted and about 12" tall. Thanks

boxwoods come in two varieties (horizontal and vertical). Generally the variety you purchased would be horizontal in nature.
This plant will grow three to one. Three inches wide while growin one in in height. Whereas you have twelve inch plants they are approximately fifteen years in age. They will be sherred for shipping thus you’ll have a 12′ h by 8′ w plant on your hands.
Regardless allow the plant to assume it’s natural growth patterns. Prepare your bed to allow for both internal and external growth. Picture five years from now. Place the plants back away from the drive or pavement you want by at least four feet. Space them at least 30 to 36" center apart.
I recognize this differs greatly from previous advice, however, the key to this is what happens in the future versus immediate result. At the previously applied thoughts you will have plants that either smother each other or die to lack of water and fertilization. Boxwoods are great for training in growth. You can prune them to go taller (prune the sides) or horizontally (prune the top). Always prune with a hand pruner vs. the electric/powered pruner.
Prepare your bed by hand or roto-till. Again make it at least three feet off any pavement. Although evergreen they can tolerate neutral soil as well as acidic. Prior to planting add both a 10-10-10 with mineral granular (really cheap) and some bone meal to the soil. Do this on the last pass of roto-tilling or raking in the bed. Buy a double or triple shredded hardwood mulch for the plants.
Establish the original planting level by the difference in the root material. The level of planting should meet with where the bark is darker (this is above ground). Spread the roots, as best you can and dig a hole to support the spread roots.
Once in the ground tamp the soil to set it. Boxwoods are hearty and you will not hurt it making sure it is in place. Mulch around the exterior root structure, however, do no allow any mulch to touch the uprights. In general make a dam or well around the plant about six inches from the mainstem and do not mulch near that.
Water the dam/well you have made for a few minutes or until the perimeter is full of water. Let it be for a week or more depending on your rainfall. If there is none do it again but let the dam/well fill half way. If there is some leave it alone.
Sorry to be so detailed and longwinded, however, when properly grown the boxwood can become not only a hedge but a work or art. It easily adapts to pruning and is made into all kinds of shapes (letters, animals, waves). Hope this helps. I’m at gjgjobs@yahoo.com for other advise. Good Luck.

What do I do and do you know why? They were fine before the winter. Went thru the winter and now they are yellow. TY

they will be this way cause it was wet for so long,do not wet them just leave them to dry out…if this continue into the end of may then you have problems…I would pull back some of the soil from close the roots
so it can breathe…good luck..

I want a hedge at the front of my garden and have 5 box shrubs, but will they grow the same as a privet hedge or should I plant privet instead

No privet usually is used for higher screening purposes.
Box is usually used for ornamental purposes eg small 300mm high hedges.
No they are not the same, and are suited to their own purposes as above.

i want to plant some bushes/shrubs around my garden to hide some parts that are tatty and bare. they dont need to grow tall and will have partial sun, also they wont have anything behind them to grow against. should i just go for a simple box hedge?? ideas and advice please x

I would go with some beautiful Azalea bushes which will have foliage even in the winter. They fill in nicely and the flowers in the Spring really brighten up the landscape.

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I don’t know the first thing about gardening, but I would like to plant a couple plants, and keep my garden looking nice over the summer. Any hints or tips?

Any garden needs to have some preparation before anything should be planted. If you did not prepare a site–remove sod, ammedn the soil and till–perhaps you should try container gardening to begin with. Tomatoes are great to start with. They are easy and have great results within weeks.
Cherry tomatoes ripen quickly. Put one plant into a 10" pot in full sun. Water only when the soil begins to dry a bit.
Larger varieies will need staking and also a large pot–one plant into a 12" or 14" is good.
You can grow peppers as well.
In any case, starting small is far more rewarding when you are successful. If you jump in too quickly, you may become discouraged and give up too soon!