The vast bulk of our Box hedge plants are UK grown by industry experts, though we sometimes source our plants from professional cultivators abroad, where we can be sure that the quality of the plants matches that of our UK sites. At best4hedging we always endeavour to bring you the freshest, best quality products whilst keeping our prices low, so you can buy Box hedge plants with confidence from our nursery in Lancashire.
Box hedge problems
As a living thing Box hedging can occasionally suffer from the plight of beasties and diseases that affect Box. All of our plants are fresh and healthy, but we've included the info below to keep you informed.
Box Blight (Cylinrocladium Buxicola) – This is a serious fungal disease of box that affects leaves and stems, it is most active during wet weather.
Symptoms – Leaves turn brown and drop off, stems may also develop black streaks and die back.
Natural Control – When buying plants, isolate for three weeks before planting to ensure they are free from the disease. Avoid overhead watering as damp conditions encourage the spread of box blight. Remove and destroy infected plants, though spores can remain in the soil for up to 5 years.
Chemical Control – Fungicidal products containing tebuconazole are effective against Cylindrocladium. Always read the label and follow the manufacturers’ instructions.
Box Red Spider Mite (Eurytetranychus Buxi) – A very small sap sucking mite that feeds from the underside of the leaves in late spring and summer.
Symptoms - Plants infested with spider mite show a fine pale mottling on the leaf surface. The underside of the leaves have many tiny yellowish-green mites and egg shells. These are more easily seen with the aid of a magnifying lens. In heavy infestations, you may see fine silk webbing on the plants, and the leaves lose much of their green colour.
Natural Control – Box spider mites are unlikely to become a major pest, so could easily be tolerated. As they infest the young growth they can be controlled by regular clipping of the hedge and then burning the trimmings.
Chemical Control – Products containing acetamiprid will give some control, always read the label and follow the manufacturers’ instructions.
Mussel Scale – (Lepidosaphes Ulmi) – A sap-sucking insect that lives under a semi-hard scale that resembles a 3 mm long mussel.
Symptoms – Small bumps found on the underside of leaves or on the woody stems.
May exude a sticky white covering in summer to protect their eggs, and this can often be the first time they are noticed.
Natural Control – There is no natural control though light infestations will cause few problems.
Chemical Control – Product containing Deltamethrin or Cypermethrin will be most effective, spray in May/June. Always read the label and follow the manufacturers’ instructions.
Box rust (Puccinia buxi) - Box rust is caused by a fungus. It is not particularly troublesome and seldom causes serious problems.
Symptoms - Can be seen as thickened rusty blister-like pustules on both sides of the leaves. New leaves are infected in the spring and early summer. The fungus continues to grow during the summer and autumn and as a result, the infected spots become thicker.
Natural Control – Can be controlled with a regular pruning regime, clip off the affected shoots in summer and autumn.
Chemical Control – Spray during early summer with one of the fungicides labelled for rust diseases. The fungicides containing tebuconazole are effective against box rust. Read the instructions carefully and follow the manufacturers’ recommendations.
