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Box Tree Caterpillar

Ross9YRoss9Y Posts: 17
in Problem solving
Just spotted what must be Box Tree Caterpillar in my garden. I have two mature, shaped box bushes flanking the front door. Any thoughts on whether it’s worth trying to control it, or whether to accept moving to Box alternatives?


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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    You can buy nematodes, but quite honestly l would get rid of the plants. I speak from personal experience. 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I echo AnniD's experience. I had lots of box balls and dwarf hedges - all affected so I've got rid of the majority. No way could I either afford or want to keep spraying it all. I was really gutted as I loved my big ten year old box balls in terracotta pots, lovingly nurtured each year but nothing stays the same in gardening, you have to accept it and move on.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Ross9YRoss9Y Posts: 17
    Thanks Both, I don’t want to start a long losing battle, but wanted to check others experience first.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    Search for my thread earlier this year.

    I have been completely free this year (touch wood).  Please don't give up without a fight.  Keep looking, keep squishing,.  Spaying is cheaper than new plants.  And much better than an empty space.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Is this the thread ?
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2515410#Comment_2515410


  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Box  tree moths have spread North and are now being caught regularly in the midlands. I have caught two beautiful looking specimens this year myself. I don't have any box hedging, and as far as I know, neither do my neighbours.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    edited September 2022
    My son, who lives in France, has quite a bit of box hedging. The moth arrived and it looked awful. He asked advice from a professional gardener and was advised to spray it at regular intervals in spring. It worked! The hedge has regrown, apart from a couple of very badly eaten bits. I don't know what the spray was, it mentioned box moth and he bought it in a garden centre.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    There are several products available and as @Busy-Lizzie says, some are available in garden centres.
    It just depends on how much box you have and how prepared you are to keep on top of it.
    Personally l think life's too short, but if you're prepared to put in the work... :)

    https://jamestodman.com/blog/five-ways-to-beat-the-box-tree-caterpillar/
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Sigh... they found me this year too. I would recommend Xen-tari bological control, but it's expensive and frankly, I don't like my box balls that much. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    AnniD said:
    Is this the thread ?
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2515410#Comment_2515410


    Yes.

    The forum seardh facility is not the best.  But sometimes, usually of course common and interesting problems, get repeats.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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