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Buxus Tree Help

johntheboyjohntheboy Posts: 9
in Plants
Hi all,

I had two buxus trees by the front door which lasted a couple of years but they’ve now bit the dust, photo attached of one I’m sure is completely dead.

my wife’s just bought be two brand spanking ones (6 year old) and I want to keep these tip top.

can anyone give me a few tips as I’m not sure why my last ones died, too much sun, do they need a lot of or not so much water? Do they need specific food? Wood chips on top of the soil? Do they need huge pots?

theyve always seemed ok in the winter, more the summer that’s killed them off.

and advice is appreciated as I want to take good care of these ones!

Posts

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    It may not be your fault.
    There is a horrid disease called box blight that is killing Buxus sp.
    You may like to read about it here...

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=96
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • johntheboyjohntheboy Posts: 9
     These are the photos of new and old/dead by the way...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I'm afraid the dead one does look like box blight to me and there's not much you can do about it. I would dispose of it carefully and keep it well away from your new plants. Box plants are very greedy and also need watering well if in pots. I would use John Innes No.3 compost, with some well rotted manure mixed in and blood, fish & bone fertiliser (but not if you have dogs or badgers around) sprinkled in as well. Before you repot, soak the new plants for at least half an hour in a bucket of water and give them decent size pots. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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