I dug most of mine up last autumn. Years of wondering 'will they get blight this year or not?' and then being so disappointed with how they looked in the years when they did. Then last year the moth found us (mid Suffolk) and it was the final straw.
I've kept 2 small hedges and 5 large box balls which seemed healthy so we'll see how they fare this year.
To be honest I've found tending the border which had been edged with dwarf box much easier to look after since the box came out. I can get in with the wheel barrow to tip compost for mulch and I've been able to water with the sprinkler and hose this spring without worrying about promoting blight. I won't miss clipping and clearing up 40m of dwarf hedging next month either.
I've put in a few strategically placed yew plants which will eventually be kept as tightly clipped cones. Hopefully they will give some of the structure I missed without the parterre hedge last winter and I'll also make the box balls into cones to make it more cohesive.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
@katrinkemp, unfortunately the RHS webpage on box moth caterpillar which you might like to view if you haven't already done so, states that there are at least two generations per year so I think you are going to have your work cut out. Certainly when I inspected my box hedges last year which were infested, I saw thousands of tiny green eggs which made me decide to get rid of the hedges like Topbird above.
I was devastated at the time but have come to view it now as a new opportunity to simplify my garden and cut down on the workload - it's also a good opportunity to go on a plant buying spree and try some different ideas!
I suspect those "thousands of green eggs " was in fact caterpillar poo or frass to give it its fancy name. At the College gardens where I volunteer they have removed most of the box for the same reasons as others have given.
Yes, @Allotment Boy is right, that's the poo 💩. I have been watching the blackbirds this morning, working their way along the box hedge in the front garden and pecking at it. We have "mizzle" here at the moment so l don't know whether they're going for the caterpillars or something else.
To be honest, if l were a few (!) years younger l'd have the majority of our box plants out while OH's back was turned and to heck with the consequences, but these days he'd catch me red handed. I can see the planting opportunities and the easier care , but alas he can't (yet).
The 5 box balls I have left are currently covered in white fluff (similar to mini-woolly aphid). From previous experience (happens every year) I know this is caused by the box-sucker insect and, if left alone, will result in horrid distorted leaves. Fortunately I also know that I'll get rid of most of it when I trim the box plants in a couple of weeks time.
But it's yet another reason why box may have had its day in my garden....
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I live in the West Mids and am battling to contain Buxus caterpillar on 125 Box Balls and 3 hedges which I have been growing since 2002.I first noticed them in May this year and managed to keep the problem under control,unfortunately I have just spotted them again Mid August and have sprayed with Xentari and am picking off caterpillars everyday and cutting out the leaves that are webbed.This is a mammoth task and I am wondering to give up next year however I open my garden for the NGS and the garden will look dreadful without them.How's everyone else coping?
@jacqui whitmore My heart goes out to you with that much box it's removal will totally change the look of your garden. I recall Monty Don removed a lot of box hedging and turned it into a positive by having a wider border. However it is the strong clipped shape that sets off other plants so well that most of us miss. Euonymous Green Pillar is one thought but not suitable for cutting into a sphere. I have worked in NGS gardens and helped out on open days too. I have been concerned that visitor numbers have been down due to the dry weather. I hope you can feel inspired to make changes and have a new project. Good Luck Suze
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I've given up (I think) and ripped all my box out earlier this year as I didn't want to spray yards and yards of dwarf box hedges. My 9 box balls went as well. I still have one tall (6ft) box plant, part of an inherited mixed hedge, which I was hoping I could retain but I noticed yesterday that the caterpillars have munched their way to the top so it looks dreadful. Unfortunately it would leave a gap in the hedge if I remove it so not sure what to do now. I also had a rather nice individual variegated box shrub in a totally different area but I see they've got that as well.
Interestingly though, where I just cut off the tops of some box hedging and left the stumps (ran out of energy), they've resprouted and so far, no sign of munching. i'm waiting to see what happens next.
I'm so sorry your garden has this dreadful problem, it must be quite heart-breaking for you. The only way to cope is to think of it as a chance to re-design your garden and have replanting opportunities. Easier said then done perhaps.
Posts
I've kept 2 small hedges and 5 large box balls which seemed healthy so we'll see how they fare this year.
To be honest I've found tending the border which had been edged with dwarf box much easier to look after since the box came out. I can get in with the wheel barrow to tip compost for mulch and I've been able to water with the sprinkler and hose this spring without worrying about promoting blight. I won't miss clipping and clearing up 40m of dwarf hedging next month either.
I've put in a few strategically placed yew plants which will eventually be kept as tightly clipped cones. Hopefully they will give some of the structure I missed without the parterre hedge last winter and I'll also make the box balls into cones to make it more cohesive.
I was devastated at the time but have come to view it now as a new opportunity to simplify my garden and cut down on the workload - it's also a good opportunity to go on a plant buying spree and try some different ideas!
I have been watching the blackbirds this morning, working their way along the box hedge in the front garden and pecking at it. We have "mizzle" here at the moment so l don't know whether they're going for the caterpillars or something else.
To be honest, if l were a few (!) years younger l'd have the majority of our box plants out while OH's back was turned and to heck with the consequences, but these days he'd catch me red handed. I can see the planting opportunities and the easier care , but alas he can't (yet).
But it's yet another reason why box may have had its day in my garden....
Euonymous Green Pillar is one thought but not suitable for cutting into a sphere. I have worked in NGS gardens and helped out on open days too. I have been concerned that visitor numbers have been down due to the dry weather. I hope you can feel inspired to make changes and have a new project. Good Luck Suze
Interestingly though, where I just cut off the tops of some box hedging and left the stumps (ran out of energy), they've resprouted and so far, no sign of munching. i'm waiting to see what happens next.
I'm so sorry your garden has this dreadful problem, it must be quite heart-breaking for
you. The only way to cope is to think of it as a chance to re-design your garden and have replanting opportunities. Easier said then done perhaps.