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Any way to fix this?

PaparazzoPaparazzo Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi.

Personal gardening experience = 1.5 out of 10.

Please see attached photo of parents potted mini-tree.

They had it for 3 years but when dad had a stroke and mum was visiting every day, she didn't keep up with the watering and parts of turned brown about 6 months ago and has remained the same since.

It has never really grown any bigger, presumably because of the small pot.

I'm also guessing that just adding fertiliser isn't going to turn the brown leaves back to green beause the brown bits are dead?

Any suggestions on whether it can be saved / resored to its all green glory?

Posts

  • PaparazzoPaparazzo Posts: 6

  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    It's Buxus or Box.  They are very hungry feeders, and need lots of water and feed, especially in pots (which put them under stress).  If you need to keep it in a pot, get a bigger one if you can, and feed weekly, and water very regularly.

    They are prone to two particular problems.  Box Blight and Box Tree Caterpillar.  Blight is a fungal disease, and it's possible that's what you have.  Some closer up photos might help someone hear to confirm if it is that.

    It does not look like Box Tree Caterpillar, as they normally leave the plant covered in webs, and with leaves looking visible eaten.  With any luck it's just lack of water and nutrients.  If you have a spot in the ground, it will do better.
  • PaparazzoPaparazzo Posts: 6
    edited August 2020

  • PaparazzoPaparazzo Posts: 6
    edited August 2020
    I realise that looks like a 'web' in picture 2, but I think it's just a trick of the light. I can't see it in real life. I don't remember it ever being 'covered in webs'. Also we don't live in the south where box tree caterpillars are reported to be most prominent. There are webs on the roots below, but they may well just be cobwebs that haven't been washed off.

  • PaparazzoPaparazzo Posts: 6

  • PaparazzoPaparazzo Posts: 6
    edited August 2020
    I can't think of anywhere else in the garden that it would look normal out of the box and I think a bigger box would be too much (smallish garden). Given that the current box cost about the same price as the plant, I think we'd be looking at a replacent boxus in a simiar size inner pot to replace in the outer pot.

    Given this, is it worth trying any last resorts in an attempt to save this one first? If I cut out the brown leaves, applied a fungacide and fed it with something like fish, blood and bone, can new green folliage grow to take the place (given that it hasn't realy grown bigger for years), or is it a goner?
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    You could take a couple of pieces of the dead/dying section to a local nursery or garden centre and ask their advice.  Some places have very knowledgeable staff, others less so.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited August 2020
    If you take infected branches to a nursery make sure they are completely sealed in a ziploc bag or similar. If I ran a nursery I would not appreciate members of the public bringing diseased material in, period.

    Box regenerates pretty readily so you can restore by cutting out all dead material. Follow the dead growth back into the interior and cut the stems out from deep inside the bush.  Finally giving a rather harsh haircut to even things up. This is best done in Spring, it might be a bit late now with Autumn approaching. Box may be greedy but avoid adding too much fertiliser, follow the instructions to the letter, err on the side of underfeeding if in doubt.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
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