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Can this Parterre be rescued?

jovdWwWtjsPjovdWwWtjsP Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Good morning everyone, I am hoping you may be able to put me on the right track re. the possibility of rescuing dried out box hedge. We recently moved to a house which (at some point in time) had a beautiful box parterre planted with roses. The hedge is in very poor condition. There is no sign of blight, and whilst I am a complete novice, after a bit of googling I think the problems probably stem from lack of watering and pruning - can the hedge be rescued or will we have to start again? Thanks very much.

 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited April 2021
    If you're sure it's not blight, l'm wondering if the damage could be due to box tree caterpillars? 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=760
    I'm in no way certain, but it could be. 
    Hopefully others can confirm or hopefully say that l'm wrong. 
    Personally, l would cut out the worst affected parts and give it a good feed. There is a specialist box feed available, but l think diluted seaweed feed would do just as well.
    That's just me though  :)
    If you can access BBC iplayer, this is what Chis Beardshaw did to his box plants. Drastic, but it worked l believe. 
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000jdk9/beechgrove-2020-episode-6
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It is likely to be box blight or box caterpillar - as noted.
  • jovdWwWtjsPjovdWwWtjsP Posts: 5
    Many thanks for the quick replies, will check out the link. :)
  • Chris-P-BaconChris-P-Bacon Posts: 943
    Replace with either Ilex Crenata or Euonymus "Jean Hughes".
    Asda at the moment, are selling quite large Ilex Crenata for about £12 a pot - great value, especially if you need a lot. (You'll need about 4 or 5 per metre length.)
  • jovdWwWtjsPjovdWwWtjsP Posts: 5
    Thanks Chris, is this species more tolerant of full sun and less prone to blight/disease? 
  • jovdWwWtjsPjovdWwWtjsP Posts: 5
    Though I see it is toxic to cats  - we have two  :(
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    You might find something suitable here, l haven't gone into great depth  re any toxicity problems though .
    https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/box-hedge-alternatives.html
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I'd rip it out if it was mine. 
    Pareterre's look great in someone else's garden, but they need a LOT of clipping
    Devon.
  • jovdWwWtjsPjovdWwWtjsP Posts: 5
    Hostafan1 said:
    I'd rip it out if it was mine. 
    Pareterre's look great in someone else's garden, but they need a LOT of clipping  ....fair point!! 😄

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