Also, any harm planting near a dappled willow tree? It's a new plant (the tree). I def. don't want to damage that guy.

how do you insure water.. above layers of cardboard ...????

see link

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

Hmm. That's an interesting thought. I read that the water goes through the cardboard. I could also put the soaker underneath the cardboard. I've done the layering flower bed before and it worked beautifully. I didn't place it over the mulched area of the willow.

but were you planting flowers in the heat of summer??? .. or early spring???

by the time the cardboard allows water.. your plants might be long gone.. this time of year ...

what kind of soaker are you talking about .. and lawn irrigation is never sufficient for transplants ... and not often good for shrubs to be wet every day ... dont know about boxwood though ...

ken

boxwood takes well to transplanting, (found some littleleafs on the side of a road) with sufficient water they are now back to health four months later