Hi, my box hedge plants are starting to die from the bottom up. As they surround my garden and are a feature, I need to stop any further dying off. A neighbour says it's "caterpillar disease" and there is no cure, is this correct?
It may be a blight. Here's more info:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/boxwood-blight-treatment.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/diseases-affecting-boxwoods.htm
I suggest clipping a few of the bad stems from the bushes and take them in to a local nursery or to a county extension office to identify the problem and learn how to treat it.
I want to trim them up a bit. Worried it will stress them if I do. Advice on how soon i can do this?
I don't see where to edit this. I meant to say...I got some 25 year old boxwood shrubs for free and have transplanted.
The directions said leave in pot and plant in ground on the container when we bought it. I’m nit sure this is correct. Should I dig them up and take them out of pot?
I don't recommend leaving in container and planting. They will do much better when they are allowed to spread.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/boxwood-care.htm
My buxus hedge is covered in an ash like substance - almost like cigarette ash but doesn't smell or feel like that. Any suggestions?
This sounds like Downy or Powdery Mildew.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/downy-mildew.htm
My 4 foot rounded box woods were just pruned into balls with lower branches trimmed inward.. I thought this would kill the plant, and it just need to slant ever so slightly inward.. help!
It's best not to turn inward at all. By leaving the top rounded and the sides in a gumdrop shape, it allows sun to reach all the leaves. If you must curve inward, just a slight indentation will help avoid the thinning and browning of the lower shrub. Also some thinning cuts, instead of just shearing, will allow more light inward.
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/pruning-shrubs-and-hedges
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/trimming-boxwood-bushes.htm
My box hedge was looking lush when we had the snap frost in may.Soon after the leaves on top became white/yellow. There is no dying off & there is fresh growth under the damaged leaves & on the same stem.The sides of the box are unaffected. I am hoping this is frost damage & not blight
I do think that it was cold damage. This will have to repair itself, and it will take quite awhile. Just care for the tree as usual.
Here are two articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/yellow-or-brown-boxwoods.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/boxwood-winter-protection.htm
The man sized figure is 4 years old and up until now has been very healthy. It is regularly watered, fertilised and bug sprayed. This year several of the Box plant strands have died while others are healthy. Can I get new plants to train up?
I would first try to get the dead branches to regrow. Here are some common diseases of boxes; see if you recognize the shrub's problem. You can trim back the dead wood which will encourage new growth. If it's a fungal infection you may just need to spray with a copper fungicide.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/yellow-or-brown-boxwoods.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/boxwood/fertilizing-boxwoods.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/how-to-make-your-own-topiary.htm