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Box blight

B3B3 Posts: 24,434
in Plants
I've cut my small box hedge -about 30% blighted- down to stumps. I was going to dig them out but I thought I'd give them one last chance.
I'm going to spray them with black spot stuff. Should I spray the sticks (about 6" high) or wait until there's a few leaves?
Apart from the blight they seemed healthy enough and new foliage was beginning to sprout in the bare wood
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,804
    I don't think spraying for black spot will help as it's a different problem.  The RHS advises spraying with a fungicide BEFORE pruning then cleaning the tools used and the boots worn and removing every scrap of debris.   Then feed the plants to help them grow back healthily.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=1005 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,434
    Oops!
    Oh well, I told them they had a last chance so I'll stick to my word.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,804
    Feed them then and give them pep talks.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 7,705
    When the weather warms up and they start budding up I'd give them a feed and mulch the soil at the base of the plants to suppress any spores lingering on the surface.

    When the leaves open you can spray them with the Bayer fungicide which specifically states it helps to control box blight. (Widely available at GCs). 

    I brought my plants back from the brink (probably about 75% affected) using this fungicide a couple of seasons ago. Use it a couple of times as per instructions and then switch to regular foliar feeds. You should use the fungicide again at the first sign of any new blight. With a bit of luck there won't be any.

    For foliar feed - liquid seaweed once every 2 - 3 weeks is good or you can use a (more expensive) product called Top Buxus which was recommended to me by several people including a professional gardener. However, I'm yet to be convinced it is that much better than liquid seaweed...

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,434
    Thanks O &T😊☺I didn't know there was a specific spray. I'll look out for it.
    To be honest it's looking good without the hedge which spanned one end of the patio. If it survives, I think I'll keep it much lower. It was about  3ft before.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • 99josephine9999josephine99 Posts: 1
    Hello I bought 6 Buxus plants from a garden centre at end of May this year and have looked after but they all have box blight   They have not been in contact with any other plants could they have had blight when I bought them

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