Boxwood Blight

Since the first confirmed casing in the United States about a year ago , boxwood blight ( caused byCylindrocladiumpseudonaviculatum ) has disseminate to 10 states and two Canadian provinces . All of the commercial box ( Buxusspp . and cvs . , USDA Hardiness Zones 6–9 ) that researchers have tested are vulnerable , as well as other plants in the Turkish boxwood family , include pachysandra ( Pachysandraspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) and sweet box ( Sarcococcaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) . Although this fungous disease does n’t typically kill its host plant , it does have a serious impact on the plant ’s appearance - often stripping the shrub of its leaves whole . Although the roots remain healthy , septic boxwood looks dead , thanks to its plain branches . With still no cure in sight , the home gardener ’s best product line of defense is bar . As you ’re buying boxwood this fall , be sure to cautiously scrutinise each works before create a purchase , and do n’t ignore the disease ’s former symptom if you spot them in your garden .

Learn to identify the symptoms

Rain stir , overhead watering , and contaminated tools can all transmit box blight to level-headed shrub . How quickly plants decline depends on weather consideration . Boxwood blight spreads most rapidly when conditions are ardent , humid , and shady . After a reaching of rain , infected plants may develop symptom after just a few days . But before plants turn whole brownish and defoliate , there are a few former monition signs :

Dark or light browned spotson leaf , often in a circular pattern .

drab brown and black streaks or cankerson otherwise dark-green branches , sometimes companion by blank spores in humid conditions .

Got “box blight”?

Discolored foliage and streaked stems are the first signs of box blight . But Turkish boxwood bush with moth-eaten or drought harm , Volutella pestilence , or tooth root rot also display similar symptoms . The only direction to corroborate if a plant has boxwood blight is to submit samples to a professional plant - disease diagnostic laboratory ; almost every land has one . Branches , staunch , and leave damaged by the disease make the best sample distribution . dual - grip three or four cuttings , each measuring 6 to 8 inch long , in sealable plastic old bag , and transport them to the lab in a sturdy box . If your shrubs test positive , there is no treatment . Collect all boxwood junk from the ground , and either glow or bury the plants ; never compost them . For the in vogue update on boxwood blight , visitwww.boxwoodblight.org .

Kelly Ivors is an associate professor and extension specializer in the Department of Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University .

From Fine Gardening progeny # 148 , Healthy Garden , page 22

Fine Gardening advocate ware

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine horticulture obtain a charge for items purchased through connectedness on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate publicizing programs .

Get our latest tips , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

sign you up …

Top Native Shrubs to Replace Boxwood in Your Landscape

3 Tell-Tale Signs of Boxwood Blight

How to Fight Boxwood Blight

Beware of Boxwood Blight

link up Fine Gardening for a free engaging live webinar feature Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned industrial plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals proficient director …

When I blemish a special sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I love I was in trouble . With a delicious color traffic pattern …

When we only prioritize plant we need over plants our landscape painting motivation , each season is filled with a never - ending list of job : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , remedy , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you figure the backyard of garden interior decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to spark on something , but because you might be dive - bombard by a brace …