boxwood yellowing - Ask Extension
My boxwood shrubs show a lot of yellow leaves now in mid-Apri. What causes this and how can I remedy the problem? Even in the summer the leaves we...
Knowledgebase
boxwood yellowing #825707
Asked April 14, 2023, 7:18 PM EDT
My boxwood shrubs show a lot of yellow leaves now in mid-Apri. What causes this and how can I remedy the problem? Even in the summer the leaves were not deep green color like some other specimens I have seen. I am attaching a photo.
Thank you,
David Lambert
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi David, sorry for the delay but I just got your request in the Email. Thanks for the picture. It could be several things. Here is a very good fact sheet that might help: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/boxwood-identify-and-manage-common-problems
Boxwood is prone to several things among them the wind injury in the winter. We have had exceptionally high winds this winter and early spring. When a plant is evergreen and exposed to high winds, they can't bring enough moisture to the leaves to compensate and then the leaves turn brown. The other thing in a landscape setting is proximity to where the local dogs do their thing. Sometimes dogs and even cats use boxwood as a marking post in someone's yard. If there is no rain to wash it off, the salts in the urine can burn and turn the foliage brown.
Since you are in Franklin County, I would take a sample that shows green leaves and also the browning leaves to OSU Extension Franklin County. They are now located in a new building at the Waterman Complex on West Lane Avenue on the West Campus of OSU. They have people there who have experience with plants and can help you. They can put it under the microscope and see if it is an insect or a disease problem. That would be the best way to find out what is going on with your boxwood. Hope this helps you. Don
Boxwood is prone to several things among them the wind injury in the winter. We have had exceptionally high winds this winter and early spring. When a plant is evergreen and exposed to high winds, they can't bring enough moisture to the leaves to compensate and then the leaves turn brown. The other thing in a landscape setting is proximity to where the local dogs do their thing. Sometimes dogs and even cats use boxwood as a marking post in someone's yard. If there is no rain to wash it off, the salts in the urine can burn and turn the foliage brown.
Since you are in Franklin County, I would take a sample that shows green leaves and also the browning leaves to OSU Extension Franklin County. They are now located in a new building at the Waterman Complex on West Lane Avenue on the West Campus of OSU. They have people there who have experience with plants and can help you. They can put it under the microscope and see if it is an insect or a disease problem. That would be the best way to find out what is going on with your boxwood. Hope this helps you. Don
