Box (Buxus) is a wonderful plant for defining or formalizing the edge of a border as we were at Lady Binoche's, and of course can be grown into a larger shrub for hedging or topiary shapes. A box ball in a terracotta pot placed on the patio is a particularly effective use of this versatile plant. (photo courtesy photographers Rictor Norton & David Allen)
One of the most common problems to affect Box is the dreaded Box blight. There are basically two types or strains affecting us here in North Hampshire, Volutella buxi and Cylindrocladium buxicola both of which eventually can kill the whole plant. Given the right conditions, in particular this summer with all the rain we've been having combined with warm moist air, these vigorous fungi can move swiftly from plant to plant.
So how do you know if you have it, what are the symptoms? If your plants have been infected you will soon see the leaves turn brown and dieback will start to occur in branches. If you have a hedge or speciman topiary you will soon notice bare patches appear as the fungus spreads and the plants deteriorate. Both strains are equally destructive and symptoms almost identical, in volutella pink looking spores can be found most often on the underside of the leaves. Cylindrocladium is distinguished by dark brown spots on the leaves which enlarge as the fungus takes hold.
Treatment: Box Blight is a fungus that spreads by spores which can lay dormant around the garden. Once symptoms begin to appear you should cut away infected branches so only healthy leaves are left. Clean up any dead leaves on the ground and then all infected material should be burnt. If your plant is badly infected you should consider digging it up to help prevent the fungus from spreading and burn this also. Obviously it may not be desirable to dig up a whole hedge or destroy your prized topiary without a fight in which case applying a suitable chemical fungicide is your next option.
At present there is not a potent enough fungicide on the market availiable to the Amateur gardener on general garden centre shelves. However I would suggest using those fungicides which are availiable for prevention measures before any symptoms have appeared may by sensible.(*see note below) This is particularly advisable if other gardens in your area are having problems with box blight. If symptoms have already appeared then you should hire a suitably qualified person in the horticultural industry to apply a professional standard chemical. Penconazole is one brand, Octave is another. (*note some garden centre fungicides contain a solution of penconazole, this may be of benefit for prevention measures, check the product details when purchasing) In North Hampshire supplies are availiable from Scats http://www.scatscountrystores.co.uk/ or Avoncrop http://www.avoncrop.co.uk/ Note because of government regulations the companies listed will only usually supply commercial agricultural/horticultural chemicals to a suitably qualified person. All posts archived at the bottom right of this page, for the latest and to go to the homepage click here:http://lifebetweentheflowers.blogspot.com/
One of the most common problems to affect Box is the dreaded Box blight. There are basically two types or strains affecting us here in North Hampshire, Volutella buxi and Cylindrocladium buxicola both of which eventually can kill the whole plant. Given the right conditions, in particular this summer with all the rain we've been having combined with warm moist air, these vigorous fungi can move swiftly from plant to plant.
So how do you know if you have it, what are the symptoms? If your plants have been infected you will soon see the leaves turn brown and dieback will start to occur in branches. If you have a hedge or speciman topiary you will soon notice bare patches appear as the fungus spreads and the plants deteriorate. Both strains are equally destructive and symptoms almost identical, in volutella pink looking spores can be found most often on the underside of the leaves. Cylindrocladium is distinguished by dark brown spots on the leaves which enlarge as the fungus takes hold.
Treatment: Box Blight is a fungus that spreads by spores which can lay dormant around the garden. Once symptoms begin to appear you should cut away infected branches so only healthy leaves are left. Clean up any dead leaves on the ground and then all infected material should be burnt. If your plant is badly infected you should consider digging it up to help prevent the fungus from spreading and burn this also. Obviously it may not be desirable to dig up a whole hedge or destroy your prized topiary without a fight in which case applying a suitable chemical fungicide is your next option.
At present there is not a potent enough fungicide on the market availiable to the Amateur gardener on general garden centre shelves. However I would suggest using those fungicides which are availiable for prevention measures before any symptoms have appeared may by sensible.(*see note below) This is particularly advisable if other gardens in your area are having problems with box blight. If symptoms have already appeared then you should hire a suitably qualified person in the horticultural industry to apply a professional standard chemical. Penconazole is one brand, Octave is another. (*note some garden centre fungicides contain a solution of penconazole, this may be of benefit for prevention measures, check the product details when purchasing) In North Hampshire supplies are availiable from Scats http://www.scatscountrystores.co.uk/ or Avoncrop http://www.avoncrop.co.uk/ Note because of government regulations the companies listed will only usually supply commercial agricultural/horticultural chemicals to a suitably qualified person. All posts archived at the bottom right of this page, for the latest and to go to the homepage click here:http://lifebetweentheflowers.blogspot.com/
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