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Buxus help

davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
in Problem solving
Hi I've noticed our buxus has had cobwebs on it and I've found a few moths. 

Any idea what it could be? Do I just leave it? I've noticed there's lots of little bits on the floor underneath. 


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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm afraid that will be the box moth/caterpillar. Very common in the south, and is the reason many people are ditching box and growing an alternative.
    There's no real cure or preventative solution other than picking off the caterpillars, but it can totally devastate plants.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    Fairygirl said:
    I'm afraid that will be the box moth/caterpillar. Very common in the south, and is the reason many people are ditching box and growing an alternative.
    There's no real cure or preventative solution other than picking off the caterpillars, but it can totally devastate plants.
    Oh no, we've been growing this buxus hedge for about 6 years now typical 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's been many many threads about it @davebettz, especially in the last few years. It's rampant in many areas.
    We don't have it up here. Different climate. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Desi_in_LondonDesi_in_London Posts: 731
    edited July 2023
    There are nematodes and a bacterium based treatment  ( brand name xentari-- seems widely available online although unclear to me if licensed for home use in the UK - but it is in the EU- , and search fruit and veg nematodes or box caterpillar nematodes). Sadly nothing preventative , needs to be used in conjunction with picking off the caterpillars, and something that would be needed at least a couple of times a season.

    So it depends a little how attached you are to the box hedge and and therefore how prepared to be continually vigilant for the privilege of keeping it. 
    Kindness is always the right choice.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's interesting re the  nematodes @Desi_in_London. I'm not terribly aware of these things because they're not needed here. The blight is present in odd pockets, although again - not present on this side of Scotland as far as I'm aware. A few areas in the east, but that's a very different climate to this side which probably makes a big difference. 

    As you say, it will depend on how committed anyone is to their hedging as to whether they want to persist. 
    Sorry to give you that bad news @davebettz. Something to consider. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    Fairygirl said:
    That's interesting re the  nematodes @Desi_in_London. I'm not terribly aware of these things because they're not needed here. The blight is present in odd pockets, although again - not present on this side of Scotland as far as I'm aware. A few areas in the east, but that's a very different climate to this side which probably makes a big difference. 

    As you say, it will depend on how committed anyone is to their hedging as to whether they want to persist. 
    Sorry to give you that bad news @davebettz. Something to consider. 
    I've been out there for an hour or so and I haven't seen any caterpillars, but plenty of moths cocooned or empty. 
  • christian.mortonchristian.morton Posts: 22
    Sadly, in my experience, it's not worth the fight to save them. I tried for a year to rescue but ended ripping all mine out as the caterpillar devestated my large bushes to horrible brown skeletons. I've got a gaping hole in my garden now where the large bushes used to be.
  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    What are all the little things in the cobwebs cause if there egss I've no chance
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    If they're tiny yellow things, then yes they are eggs. Believe me, l know.
  • davebettzdavebettz Posts: 110
    I'm going to try the xentari 
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