Forum home› Talkback
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Gardeners world last Friday

Lily PillyLily Pilly Posts: 3,845
in Talkback

I have just managed to catch up with last weeks episode  It was of particular interest to us as we are plagued with box blight here. Monty had an expert on who said there were two treatments available now but, of course being the Beeb, he couldn't name them

does anyone know?

Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
A A Milne
«13

Posts

  • Lily PillyLily Pilly Posts: 3,845

    Oh Verdun I was so close to getting hopeful.

    we have been working hard here on blight and this morning we dug up masses which I have washed the roots of before we cleanse the soil and replant. It was a particularly bad stretch 

    think I will look for it anyway, I will try anything!

    Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
    A A Milne
  • Lily PillyLily Pilly Posts: 3,845

    I should have said I washed the Unaffected bits!

    Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
    A A Milne
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I think Verd's right LP. There isn't  a spray or anything, it's really a case of cutting out all the affected dead stuff to let air in. Monty seemed to have a lot of other planting round the base of the big 'globes' of box. If that was me, I'd get shot of those too, lay gravel or something to keep the whole area clear and let air circulate, and then see what happened. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Beaus MumBeaus Mum Posts: 3,554

    Hi LP I agree with Verdun and Fairy I don't think there was a major spray or anything but just to do as the guys advise.  I think monty is going to cut out all the bad bits and re shape them from balls into something else, I'm looking forward to what he comes up with image maybe you could try a different shape? I'm sure he said clouds ? Hope yours will be ok x

     

  • kleipieperkleipieper Posts: 563

    I agree that there isn't a real cure for box blight at the moment. image

    Here in The Netherlands they had a huge problem with blight at the Royal palace of Het Loo. They asked the Wageningen University, which is a specialist university for agriculture and plants, to search for a cure, but they couldn't come up with anything either.

    In the end they dug up all 27 km! of box and replaced it with Ilex Crenata Dark Green.

    And now there is a huge infestation with these critters in another part of the country.image

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=760

    It seems as if box plants are getting more and more problems. image

  • SupernoodleSupernoodle Posts: 954

    Yes, I was wondering what was growing around the balls and if it was intentional.

  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072

    I didn't see that particular episode but a while ago Monty was advising spraying the Box with seaweed extract,it's worth a go.

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    Lily - the RHS expert Monty called in did mention treatments, but Monty won't use chemicals, which is why the rest of the program concentrated on control by good husbandry.  It seems 2 new products have been introduced this year:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=96

    Not sure how proven they are yet, but if it strikes here again I will give them a goimage

    we also commented that he could do with clearing the growth round his box balls- it never used to look like that (it was all gravel and brick paving), so I suspect he lost heart and just let it go.  

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    Heres what I remember it looking at in days of yore

    image

     

Sign In or Register to comment.