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TOP How to keep box healthy TIP Common box or boxwood, Buxus sempervirens is the foundation of classical formal gardens and contemporary designs. We use it in pots, we trim it into shapes and we use it as hedges. It features on doorsteps, patios, in window-boxes and balconies. In fact it must be the most widely planted evergreen shrub.

Why is it so popular? most soluble nutrient and is easily washed from Well, it tolerates shade, the soil; therefore plants drought, urban pollution in containers, that are and tough growing watered regularly, become conditions. It responds starved of potash. The well to trimming and effect is more pronounced shaping, so when the in winter. range of plants available The remedy is an to gardeners was smaller application of Vitax Buxus than it is today it was fertiliser and thorough watering. This is best applied in early an ideal subject to use spring but can be applied at any time of the year if the foliage to create designs. It has is showing discolouration. It is also a good idea to water with long been used for topiary, the knot garden and parterre liquid Vitax Tomato Feed at the same time to make nitrogen throughout Europe, and further afield. and potash immediately available to the plants. This can be Sadly in recent years box has been affected by box blight repeated after two weeks and the plants should green-up disease and more recently a plague of tiny caterpillars that quickly. feast on the foliage. The blight that affects boxwood is widespread and feared by gardeners across Europe and the US. Trimming and growing conditions Although difficult to control you can help box hedges, topiary and structure plants to resist infection growing them well. The soft, new growth on box can be Like most hardy evergreens box is often starved. We feed our very susceptible to frost damage; roses, fruit and vegetables, but usually leave evergreens like those young leaves turn white and boxwood hungry. As they grow in the same soil for many years translucent. The frost damaged they eventually become starved. This results in discolouration growth is often thought to be box blight. And it is most often and weak growth. Feeding once or twice a year with Vitax seen on low, flat-topped hedges that have been stimulated into Buxus Fertiliser provides all the nutrients needed to maintain growth by early trimming. Always avoid bulky organic manure that rich dark green colour immediately around the plants as this stimulates soft growth. and promote strong Remember to trim at the right time: in midsummer. healthy growth that is more Box blight is a fungal disease that loves warm, damp resistant to disease. conditions. Do not overcrowd your buxus with other plants. Maintain good air circulation around them. It is also important Has your box really got to remove fallen leaves from the top of box hedges in autumn blight? and winter; these can cause die-back and weaken the plants.

Box often takes on a If it is box blight? bronze or orange hue, especially in winter and If your box does become affected by box blight don’t panic. It when it is growing in full normally appears as patches of brown or black infected growth, sun, especially in pots. This eventually turning parchment and resulting in leaf drop. Close discolouration can be quite inspection of infected leaves reveals little black specks on extreme and the plants look the foliage. At first signs spray with any general fungicide and sick. This is not box blight, it repeat at 14 day intervals. Feed with Vitax Buxus fertiliser, is usually caused by potash water and remove competition and the plants should grow deficiency. Potash is the through it and recover. Continued...... Professional products for the enthusiastic, Garden World garden proud and experienced gardener.

How to keep box healthy

What about the box tree caterpillar?

The other problem with box What you will need to in recent years is the invasion of the box tree caterpillar: the create your shopping list larva of a moth, originally from Asia, which feeds voraciously on box plants. It is particularly a problem in urban areas with a high concentration of box hedges and topiary. As soon as you discover it spray thoroughly with PY bug killer, an effective insecticide which controls caterpillars. Available in a handy ready to use spray Buxus Feed Tomato Feed PY Bug Killer it is easy to use and effective RTU if you spray the top and undersides of all foliage and repeat around 10 days later.

PY Bug Killer Andy McIndoe for Vitax Concentrate Gardeners who know and trust our brands

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