Boxwood issue - Ask Extension
Hi,
I am wondering if you have an idea of what is happening to my boxwood bush. It is about 3-5 years old I believe. I was looking up Boxwood bligh...
Knowledgebase
Boxwood issue #810567
Asked September 13, 2022, 8:21 AM EDT
Hi,
I am wondering if you have an idea of what is happening to my boxwood bush. It is about 3-5 years old I believe. I was looking up Boxwood blight, but I don't see any green leaves with dark spots on the bush. There is just that one or two brown leaves in the picture with a dark spot, but on the rest of the bush, I do not see any. It seems like the leaves are turning from dark green to light green and then to brown.
I have 3 more Boxwoods next to this one (this one is on one of the ends). They all look okay to me.
I do remember last winter once or twice a bunch of snow was on this bush in the center of the bush and had noticeably weighed down the branches. I am not sure it that had anything to do with it.
Thank you,
Natalie
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello Natalie,
We agree this doesn't look like Boxwood Blight, but it could be Volutella or one of the other fungal infections boxwood can be vulnerable to. You can explore our boxwood diagnostic page for potential candidates to compare symptoms to. For now, just trim out the stems with dried leaves (probably those that are paling along the entire branch too) and damaged bark (we can see some areas where the bark is peeling off the wood inside the stem). No fungicide or insecticide is needed (or helpful at this point), but just keep monitoring the plants for watering needs if we experience any further stretches of dry weather through autumn. (Feel the soil about five inches deep and water well only if it's becoming fairly dry to the touch at that depth.)
Miri
We agree this doesn't look like Boxwood Blight, but it could be Volutella or one of the other fungal infections boxwood can be vulnerable to. You can explore our boxwood diagnostic page for potential candidates to compare symptoms to. For now, just trim out the stems with dried leaves (probably those that are paling along the entire branch too) and damaged bark (we can see some areas where the bark is peeling off the wood inside the stem). No fungicide or insecticide is needed (or helpful at this point), but just keep monitoring the plants for watering needs if we experience any further stretches of dry weather through autumn. (Feel the soil about five inches deep and water well only if it's becoming fairly dry to the touch at that depth.)
Miri
