Unfortunately it is really widespread. The Royal Horticultural Society is researching solutions and tracking the spread. It will take a while to have a solid solution. So better to avoid box, which is why a few local garden centres have put up notices, which is the decent thing to do. We can't all know everything.
Saw an old chap yesterday trimming his immaculate box hedge. He looked so proud I didn't have the heart to tell him I saw a few caterpillars on it. Not bad this year but next year........
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
I love formal gardens and topiary @madpenguin, and it's very sad that this is now so widespread. I don't think it'll make it this far in my lifetime, but who knows how far it'll get with the climate the way it is.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
So many posts about this problem in the last couple of weeks🥲
The moth has been fairly well confined to London and the SE until now but I have it Suffolk and we also have forum members with it in Bristol, Bath and the Isle of Wight.
It's on the march....
My hedge is coming out over the next few weeks.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
As some of you know, I volunteer at Capel Manor college gardens. They have taken out a lot of their box. They are treating some of it in specific areas, to try to keep some. There is a lot about alternatives, RHS and Kew are working on it. Ilex is often cited as a good alternative but it's much more expensive to buy and it needs a lot more water to survive well.
We had two in containers 'guarding' the front door. I posted on this about 18 months or so ago. One we binned, the other I cut out all the dead material. Over the last 12 months it made a great recovery only to succumb once again in the last couple of weeks. I won't bother trying to nurse this one. Shame.
Posts
Walking the dog tonight, nearly every box plant in my neighbourhood is effected too.
Time to choose a few new plants for your garden
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
He looked so proud I didn't have the heart to tell him I saw a few caterpillars on it.
Not bad this year but next year........
I don't think it'll make it this far in my lifetime, but who knows how far it'll get with the climate the way it is.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The moth has been fairly well confined to London and the SE until now but I have it Suffolk and we also have forum members with it in Bristol, Bath and the Isle of Wight.
It's on the march....
My hedge is coming out over the next few weeks.