Fantastic post, JP. One close to my heart, too, as we lost every single box plant (around 200 bought as tiny plants) in my mum's garden to the dreaded boxwood caterpillar back in 2018, after trying to save them over 3 years. I used Xentari too. Honestly, unless you camp out beside the plants you are lost! If it's one or two plants, maybe, but whatever the Xentari experts say, it's a full time job. Particularly as there is so much rain. Because you have to repeat the spraying after rain. So you can see how it's a lost cause with the months and months of rain we've had just this past year. I felt bereft as the entire garden lost its definition and I had to say bye-bye to my balls.
Since 2020, I've replanted with Euonymous jap 'Jean Huges' and it's bulking up nicely. To save money any pruning I do this year ( I wanted to give them time to find their feet) I will make cuttings for new plants. There really is nothing as beautiful as box, but this Euonymous has small fresh green leaves and can be topiarised like box.
I am glad you shared the info that Xentari won't be selective to only kill one type of moth/caterpillar and that is concerning.
An excellent insight to these pesky fellas. Thank you.
Oh my goodness Franny that must have been hell! You are right though. If you have that much Box there’s almost no hope. It’s so sad. I just hope the alternatives don’t start to be affected by disease.
I agree. I have seen the 'alternative to box' garden at Whiskey. There are many good alternatives for sure. But even the trusty Pittosporum succumbed to the incessant wet of the last 8 months. Yew seems to be excellent.
Oh the pain of growing beautiful box! Fabulous article JP.
I had 6 in pots (4 balls & 3 spirals) which moved with me. I’d already battled both blight & caterpillar in the past but using that brilliant spray, Xentari has saved them every time.
I lost the health spray on moving but I do remember you could mix both sprays which made life easier. Must get some more. Thankfully the blight & caterpillar spray was found because ….
The developer of our new ickle new build development (just 18 houses) had his landscapers plant box cones in all the little front gardens along with other shrubs (back gardens were just mud and weeds!) - they’ve all been decimated by box caterpillar which once again tried to take out my box plants that moved with us - thankfully that wonderful spray has saved ours yet again.
Our neighbour on one side took their ‘dead’ cone out, but our new neighbours the other side are going to use the spray. I must admit to not doing the caterpillar removal thing - too squeamish!
I’m really looking forward to part 2 but I’m still battling on with my beloved box!
Good for you Penny! The health mix is brilliant. The caterpillar spray is equally good, but you do have to be so careful. Some of the alternatives are wonderful, but I still don’t think you can beat Box. I only recently saved my two at our front entrance for the second time. I going to battle on with those, but I can’t see myself buying any more.
We have just one box plant and it’s been effected by box blight, although the last few weeks new leaves have started to appear. I’m going to share this with the other half and see if we can save it, otherwise a Japanese Holly may be the solution. Thanks for sharing such an informative post JP on a topic which seems to affect so many gardens.
Great post, thank you. JP - you did a brilliant job of foiling the BCs. I opted for planting Pittosporum Golf Ball in my 30 metre long front border - they have grown well and look fab and don't appear to be of interest to any caterpillars X
Great post, thank you. JP - you did a brilliant job of foiling the BCs. I opted for planting Pittosporum Golf Ball in my 30 metre long front border - they have grown well and look fab and don't appear to be of interest to any caterpillars X
Oh I so feel your pain. We’ve had blight and box moth caterpillars over successive years. I behave like a woman possessed when we have a pest which threatens the topiary and so far the approach you’ve outlined works but I’d much rather be relaxing in the garden with a glass of rosé than charging about like an exterminator
What an interesting read. Thanks for all the information and will be looking for alternative Box loveliness for new garden project. Damn those little critters 🐛🐛
What an in-depth study, showing just how desperate this situation is. I think we’re all going to have to admit that eventually the pests will win, and as you rightly say, don’t plant any more box. I just can’t bring myself to use any spray that’s going to kill all moths and caterpillars and therefore butterflies - even if there’s the slightest breeze the chances are that it’ll cause a problem with the garden’s ecosystem as a whole. I know you take the utmost care though JP!
Definitely don’t plant any more box - it’s an invitation to these pests, and we need to be thinking now to the future and resilient planting, using plants which will take care of itself. I’ve had success with the following- I know nothing will quite match up to the just-right leaf colour and form of buxus but here goes:
My very best substitute is Euonymus Japonicus Microphyllus - it’s a great box alternative and makes a good low-growing hedge.
Euonymus ‘Jean Hugues’ and ‘Green Spire’ - both are great! Shinier leaves than box but healthy and they thicken out quickly.
Ilex crenata- I’ve found this really good, but it is totally dependent on the stock you get and some people find it takes forever. As it’s become more popular, so some of the strains have become a bit more questionable.
Myrtle can be ok if you’re sheltered, but it doesn’t like getting soggy. Same goes for rosemary.
A brilliant place to visit is RHS Wisley where they have a whole knot garden area dedicated to trialling low hedging box-substitutes - it’s really worth visiting as you can see it lots of different plants in action, growing as hedges, and choose for yourself.
Thank you for all this information Jo. Yes, I agree about the spray. It does do the job, but I think the risk to other caterpillars is too great in my opinion. With a heavy heart I won’t be buying any more Box. Wednesday’s post is very interesting regarding the alternatives. Thank you for your suggestions and I love the idea of the Wisley trial hedges.
My box has finally succumbed! I decided a few years ago that if those pesky caterpillars reared their ugly, munching heads that my bush was for the chop - permanently. That time has come, so now for the back-breaking task of cut, burn and grubbing out. Nematodes and feeding are an option, but chemicals are not for me and the wild things that call my patch home. And, although I long to be as dedicated and methodical as you and follow your excellent advice, I’m from the #restorenaturenow school of gardening. Plus, since we created a much-loved Japanese-style garden in our previous urban garden (that still looks good many years later), low maintenance has long been my gardening mantra, as our current increasingly wild and wanton country garden reveals! I do have a large square formal raised bed in the front garden that we built to plant a spectacular carmine-blossoming peach tree. I filled it with clipped lavender and euonymus as an alternative to box, and it’s served me well. I too love Architectural Plants in Pulborough, so I can’t wait for Wednesday’s post to discover your ideas for alternatives. Good luck with your remaining balls, though I reckon you might be tempted by something new from AP before too long.
Flora, first of all, can I say that you write beautifully. Thank you for your considered comment. I’d love to see pictures of the Japanese garden you created, it sounds wonderful. The disease/pest-free alternatives to Buxus are really exciting. Looking forward to showing you.
Hello JP! Lovely day here and hope its the same with you! I used your method of control after reading it on your blog that had your recipes etc. My box hedge was planted about 20 years ago from 3 inch plants and I was contemplating digging it up after several bald patches from box blight. Your method saved the day and the hedge is alive and kicking still! I do the feed treatment still and I think that helps too.
On a different tack, will you be adding the content from your blog to Substak or am I being daft not seeing it anywhere?
It’s definitely true that a healthy plant stands much more chance of survival, so the continual feed and treatment is worth it. As for my old blog, I am gradually removing posts from there, particularly if I write about the same subject with updates here. In the end that site will go. I am planning to moves posts over to here. It’s just getting the time. X
Good Morning JP , I absolutely loved this . I’m fully aware that my one remaining ball ( 20 years old ) is on borrowed time . But I won the fight as it was completed ravaged to the point of having to cut back to a half of its former self and start again . I had a set of steps to complete including taking a stiff scrubbing brush to outwardly scrub the remaining twigs ( that’s all they were ! ) as advice given by a topiary specialist..and again we are lush . I will not prune until next year . I’m glad I saved and will never buy again . The cost of continuing with the top bux products is not worth while . Xentari will be applied again again until the packet runs out ! I also have gone down the Japanese Holly route and it’s great ! Xx
Thank you Nic. I remember your Insta post on your battle. Ilex Crenata is a pretty good alternative. I don’t think it’s as lush though, do you? I’m with you though, definitely won’t be buying any more Box.
No it’s not shiny and an inferior tougher looking brother . But I suppose we shall find this as pests travel .. didn’t the moth arrive from India ? So the story goes …. What with the parakeets and the moth whatever next ?
Very helpful advice. Thankyou, we lost all our box 3 years ago and now only have ilex crenata - fingers crossed they are doing well 🙌🙌
I bought two lovely Japanese Hollies too on the back of the painful caterpillar journey. I’ve cloud pruned them both they are so happy so far x
That sounds fab Nic. I’d like to see!
It’s so incredibly sad. Yes, here’s hoping nothing comes for the alternatives.
Fantastic post, JP. One close to my heart, too, as we lost every single box plant (around 200 bought as tiny plants) in my mum's garden to the dreaded boxwood caterpillar back in 2018, after trying to save them over 3 years. I used Xentari too. Honestly, unless you camp out beside the plants you are lost! If it's one or two plants, maybe, but whatever the Xentari experts say, it's a full time job. Particularly as there is so much rain. Because you have to repeat the spraying after rain. So you can see how it's a lost cause with the months and months of rain we've had just this past year. I felt bereft as the entire garden lost its definition and I had to say bye-bye to my balls.
Since 2020, I've replanted with Euonymous jap 'Jean Huges' and it's bulking up nicely. To save money any pruning I do this year ( I wanted to give them time to find their feet) I will make cuttings for new plants. There really is nothing as beautiful as box, but this Euonymous has small fresh green leaves and can be topiarised like box.
I am glad you shared the info that Xentari won't be selective to only kill one type of moth/caterpillar and that is concerning.
An excellent insight to these pesky fellas. Thank you.
Frannyx
Oh my goodness Franny that must have been hell! You are right though. If you have that much Box there’s almost no hope. It’s so sad. I just hope the alternatives don’t start to be affected by disease.
I agree. I have seen the 'alternative to box' garden at Whiskey. There are many good alternatives for sure. But even the trusty Pittosporum succumbed to the incessant wet of the last 8 months. Yew seems to be excellent.
Yew is a great alternative, although I do find it harder to keep pruned as a ball.
Oh the pain of growing beautiful box! Fabulous article JP.
I had 6 in pots (4 balls & 3 spirals) which moved with me. I’d already battled both blight & caterpillar in the past but using that brilliant spray, Xentari has saved them every time.
I lost the health spray on moving but I do remember you could mix both sprays which made life easier. Must get some more. Thankfully the blight & caterpillar spray was found because ….
The developer of our new ickle new build development (just 18 houses) had his landscapers plant box cones in all the little front gardens along with other shrubs (back gardens were just mud and weeds!) - they’ve all been decimated by box caterpillar which once again tried to take out my box plants that moved with us - thankfully that wonderful spray has saved ours yet again.
Our neighbour on one side took their ‘dead’ cone out, but our new neighbours the other side are going to use the spray. I must admit to not doing the caterpillar removal thing - too squeamish!
I’m really looking forward to part 2 but I’m still battling on with my beloved box!
Good for you Penny! The health mix is brilliant. The caterpillar spray is equally good, but you do have to be so careful. Some of the alternatives are wonderful, but I still don’t think you can beat Box. I only recently saved my two at our front entrance for the second time. I going to battle on with those, but I can’t see myself buying any more.
Yes it’s worth battling to save them but like you, I won’t be buying anymore which is a real shame. I saw some at Lidl recently at silly prices! X
We have just one box plant and it’s been effected by box blight, although the last few weeks new leaves have started to appear. I’m going to share this with the other half and see if we can save it, otherwise a Japanese Holly may be the solution. Thanks for sharing such an informative post JP on a topic which seems to affect so many gardens.
Watch out for the post tomorrow Sonya on the alternatives if you can’t save it.
Will do! 😊
Great post, thank you. JP - you did a brilliant job of foiling the BCs. I opted for planting Pittosporum Golf Ball in my 30 metre long front border - they have grown well and look fab and don't appear to be of interest to any caterpillars X
Phew! That’s good to hear.
Great post, thank you. JP - you did a brilliant job of foiling the BCs. I opted for planting Pittosporum Golf Ball in my 30 metre long front border - they have grown well and look fab and don't appear to be of interest to any caterpillars X
That’s sounds wonderful Alison
Oh I so feel your pain. We’ve had blight and box moth caterpillars over successive years. I behave like a woman possessed when we have a pest which threatens the topiary and so far the approach you’ve outlined works but I’d much rather be relaxing in the garden with a glass of rosé than charging about like an exterminator
It is thoroughly exhausting isn’t it and certainly not conducive to relaxation. All new topiary I buy won’t be Box that’s for sure!
My my JP that was very informative ❤️
Hopefully not too much so! 🤣😳
What an interesting read. Thanks for all the information and will be looking for alternative Box loveliness for new garden project. Damn those little critters 🐛🐛
Check my post out on Wednesday, some great alternatives in that.
What an in-depth study, showing just how desperate this situation is. I think we’re all going to have to admit that eventually the pests will win, and as you rightly say, don’t plant any more box. I just can’t bring myself to use any spray that’s going to kill all moths and caterpillars and therefore butterflies - even if there’s the slightest breeze the chances are that it’ll cause a problem with the garden’s ecosystem as a whole. I know you take the utmost care though JP!
Definitely don’t plant any more box - it’s an invitation to these pests, and we need to be thinking now to the future and resilient planting, using plants which will take care of itself. I’ve had success with the following- I know nothing will quite match up to the just-right leaf colour and form of buxus but here goes:
My very best substitute is Euonymus Japonicus Microphyllus - it’s a great box alternative and makes a good low-growing hedge.
Euonymus ‘Jean Hugues’ and ‘Green Spire’ - both are great! Shinier leaves than box but healthy and they thicken out quickly.
Ilex crenata- I’ve found this really good, but it is totally dependent on the stock you get and some people find it takes forever. As it’s become more popular, so some of the strains have become a bit more questionable.
Myrtle can be ok if you’re sheltered, but it doesn’t like getting soggy. Same goes for rosemary.
A brilliant place to visit is RHS Wisley where they have a whole knot garden area dedicated to trialling low hedging box-substitutes - it’s really worth visiting as you can see it lots of different plants in action, growing as hedges, and choose for yourself.
Thank you for all this information Jo. Yes, I agree about the spray. It does do the job, but I think the risk to other caterpillars is too great in my opinion. With a heavy heart I won’t be buying any more Box. Wednesday’s post is very interesting regarding the alternatives. Thank you for your suggestions and I love the idea of the Wisley trial hedges.
My box has finally succumbed! I decided a few years ago that if those pesky caterpillars reared their ugly, munching heads that my bush was for the chop - permanently. That time has come, so now for the back-breaking task of cut, burn and grubbing out. Nematodes and feeding are an option, but chemicals are not for me and the wild things that call my patch home. And, although I long to be as dedicated and methodical as you and follow your excellent advice, I’m from the #restorenaturenow school of gardening. Plus, since we created a much-loved Japanese-style garden in our previous urban garden (that still looks good many years later), low maintenance has long been my gardening mantra, as our current increasingly wild and wanton country garden reveals! I do have a large square formal raised bed in the front garden that we built to plant a spectacular carmine-blossoming peach tree. I filled it with clipped lavender and euonymus as an alternative to box, and it’s served me well. I too love Architectural Plants in Pulborough, so I can’t wait for Wednesday’s post to discover your ideas for alternatives. Good luck with your remaining balls, though I reckon you might be tempted by something new from AP before too long.
Flora, first of all, can I say that you write beautifully. Thank you for your considered comment. I’d love to see pictures of the Japanese garden you created, it sounds wonderful. The disease/pest-free alternatives to Buxus are really exciting. Looking forward to showing you.
Hello JP! Lovely day here and hope its the same with you! I used your method of control after reading it on your blog that had your recipes etc. My box hedge was planted about 20 years ago from 3 inch plants and I was contemplating digging it up after several bald patches from box blight. Your method saved the day and the hedge is alive and kicking still! I do the feed treatment still and I think that helps too.
On a different tack, will you be adding the content from your blog to Substak or am I being daft not seeing it anywhere?
Have a lovely day!
It’s definitely true that a healthy plant stands much more chance of survival, so the continual feed and treatment is worth it. As for my old blog, I am gradually removing posts from there, particularly if I write about the same subject with updates here. In the end that site will go. I am planning to moves posts over to here. It’s just getting the time. X
That will take a fair time JP. We can look forward now to your Christmas dinner prep later in the year! X
Good Morning JP , I absolutely loved this . I’m fully aware that my one remaining ball ( 20 years old ) is on borrowed time . But I won the fight as it was completed ravaged to the point of having to cut back to a half of its former self and start again . I had a set of steps to complete including taking a stiff scrubbing brush to outwardly scrub the remaining twigs ( that’s all they were ! ) as advice given by a topiary specialist..and again we are lush . I will not prune until next year . I’m glad I saved and will never buy again . The cost of continuing with the top bux products is not worth while . Xentari will be applied again again until the packet runs out ! I also have gone down the Japanese Holly route and it’s great ! Xx
Thank you Nic. I remember your Insta post on your battle. Ilex Crenata is a pretty good alternative. I don’t think it’s as lush though, do you? I’m with you though, definitely won’t be buying any more Box.
No it’s not shiny and an inferior tougher looking brother . But I suppose we shall find this as pests travel .. didn’t the moth arrive from India ? So the story goes …. What with the parakeets and the moth whatever next ?