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| Pests and diseases of Box hedging plants |
On the whole, there are few pests and diseases that affect box plants; in fact they are more likely to suffer damage through lack of nutrients or from over or under watering. However if you do have problems with your Box hedging plants it will probably be down to one of the following three ailments.
PESTS
Box suckers - psylla buxi.
Symptoms: These small nymphs feed on the sap of young leaves, stunting their growth and causing them to curve inwards like tiny cabbage leaves.
Treatment: It is generally not necessary to treat for this condition unless there is a severe infestation. Try regular clipping to remove infected foliage as this will help to keep down the adult flies, nymphs and any eggs that may over-winter. If necessary, spray with a contact insecticide from May to June to kill off the nymphs.
DISEASES
Box leaf spot – Phyllosticta species, Hyponectria buxi, and others.
Treatment: It is generally not necessary to treat for this condition unless there is a severe infestation. Try regular clipping to remove infected foliage as this will help to keep down the adult flies, nymphs and any eggs that may over-winter. If necessary, spray with a contact insecticide from May to June to kill off the nymphs.
DISEASES
Box leaf spot – Phyllosticta species, Hyponectria buxi, and others.
Symptoms: This is a fungal infection that can be caused by various species; the most common are listed above. Typically the infection is identifiable by characteristic pale brown or yellow blotches usually found on the underside of the leaves.
Treatment: There are no control methods for these infections other than trimming and burning infected material
Box Rust – Puccinia buxi.
Treatment: There are no control methods for these infections other than trimming and burning infected material
Box Rust – Puccinia buxi.
Symptoms: This fungal infection is identified by small, dark brown, pustules that develop on the top and underside of the leaves. These marks generally appear in early autumn but can last right through to the spring.
Treatment: As with the Box sucker, clipping off the infected foliage is all that is really necessary. You can try a systemic fungicide but the plant's vascular system is fairly dormant at this time of year and so it is not likely to be very effective.
Box Blight - Cylindrocladium buxicola and Pseudonectria buxi
For a complete guide to the identification and control of bx blight please click onto the following link: HOW TO CONTROL BOX BLIGHT
Main image credit - Jerzy Opioła - Praca własna https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
For related articles click onto the following links:
HOW TO TAKE CUTTINGS FROM BOX HEDGING
RHS Box Plants
TULIP DISEASES
WHAT IS SHOT HOLE DISEASE?
WHEN DO YOU TRIM BOX HEDGING?
.
Treatment: As with the Box sucker, clipping off the infected foliage is all that is really necessary. You can try a systemic fungicide but the plant's vascular system is fairly dormant at this time of year and so it is not likely to be very effective.
Box Blight - Cylindrocladium buxicola and Pseudonectria buxi
For a complete guide to the identification and control of bx blight please click onto the following link: HOW TO CONTROL BOX BLIGHT
Main image credit - Jerzy Opioła - Praca własna https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
For related articles click onto the following links:
HOW TO TAKE CUTTINGS FROM BOX HEDGING
RHS Box Plants
TULIP DISEASES
WHAT IS SHOT HOLE DISEASE?
WHEN DO YOU TRIM BOX HEDGING?
.
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