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Will Jeyes Fluid harm my Box hedge?

TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,238
in Problem solving

I planted a dwarf box hedge last spring which has done OK but, in September, areas of what seemed to be box blight started appearing. I've tried to do all the 'right' things (good hygiene, removing infected bits etc) and there are now signs of decent growth / new leaf formation. Maybe I've caught it - maybe it's not the dreaded blight - but anyway....

I want to do some preventative fungicide spraying this year (spraying the plants themselves) as I have read this can help with control. I have also read that it is a good idea to disinfect the soil below the plants to kill any lingering spores from fallen leaves and then apply a good mulch. The article says the disinfectant they used is not available to unqualified gardeners.

I thought about using diluted Jeyes fluid as a disinfectant on the soil. Has anyone else tried this? The main thing I'm concerned about is that it might actually damage the plants (bearing in mind I use this yucky product to kill algae etc on paths). I was thinking of diluting it 1tbs to 2 gallons and aiming it just at the soil on a calm day. I will only use it on the soil immediately below the plants (ie not over the whole bed).

All views gratefully received (and yes I did watch poor old Monty cutting out his beautiful box hedging on Friday!!)

Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,350

    I'd rake off any dead leaves, feed and mulch. It would do more good than using chemicals that aren't made for the purpose. Or any chemicals come to that. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,238

    Thanks NC - I appreciate your concerns about using chemicals but can reassure you I garden very organically most of the time. This is a very small area of my garden but the box represents a very recent investment of several hundreds of pounds plus tens of hours in terms of preparation and planting - so I want to do whatever I can to protect it for at least the first couple of years.

    If it's doing well after that I'll revert to purely organic methods image

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Mark 499Mark 499 Posts: 380

    There is no treatment for box blight so if you have it it's only a matter of time before it takes hold.

  • BenDoverBenDover Posts: 484

    Loom here for box alternatives

     

    http://www.my-garden-school.com/think-outside-the-box-alternatives-to-buxus-sempervirens/

     

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