Just a heads up to anyone that deals with box and like me thought Box tree caterpillar was confined to london and the south east.
It appears this years weather has provided perfect breeding.
Here is a current map of outbreaks recorded -- a massive increase this year and considering many wont list their outbreak you can assume that pretty much most of the UK now has populations in their area.
https://www.ebts.org/bmctracker/
Ive read the life cycle of the Moth is 6-8 weeks and that we are now enetring the 3rd life cycle of this year -- with a mild autumn possibly ahead, we could see the current caterpillars turn into moths and have a final breeding.
PDF from EBTS uk https://www.ebts.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-Box-Moth-Flyer-v4.pdf
Really important to take some time inspecting any box you deal with -- early signs are very easy to miss - but much easier to deal with if you catch them now and get them done before another cycle is complete and winter comes.
Picture showing early signs -- look for bite marks or the light coloured wavy remains of a leaf stem. Caterpillar will probably be inside - possibly within a webbing -- as this is spider time of year theres a lot of webbing around which may not be caterpillar
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Good call Dan, we've had lots of calls recently in a short space of time and not just the usual areas in/ around London........norfolk & Glocs....constant vigilance neededas they can do a fair bit of damage in a short time...think about Dipel as a bacterial treatment for caterpillars.
https://www.progreen.co.uk/dipel-df-500-g
I had an infestation two years ago and my box balls and heding was wiped out. One needs to act fast as it only takes a short while for a box bush to be stripped.
https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/box-tree-caterpillar...
How are your box now Phil ?
Did you try moth pheromone traps as well ?
France seem to have been very badly hit last two years, i see Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is finally removing box from several beds after blight and caterpillar have wiped out 70% of its historic box.
I've dug all the box out Dan:(
I treated them with a wash and it killed all the catepillars but too much damage had been done.
I've seen some very mature box that have been wioped out. It's very sad
Looks like at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte they arent replanting the box - they are waiting 5 years to see what developments in box plant breeding and treatments bring.
Have we now reached the point in Europe that its immoral for designers to continue specifying Box planting ? Without at least first clarifying to the client the realistic, eternal treatments that will be needed.
Total disaster here in Belgium. I have gardens on the books with box worth thousands of Euros. I spray every two to three weeks with fungicides and pesticides, where clients hav'nt given up. You must check every week and react immediately. Disinfect all tools, remove all dead leaves and steady feeding via liquid seaweed amongst other things with regard to blight.
With the weather we have had and are still having , we have not trimmed anything yet and some plantations are in a sorry state.. Normally we cut in August when the plants new growth has hardened off but Advice now is to wait until temperatures of around 18 ° normalize. Very dry spring and a scorching hot summer have not helped. It's sad as buxus is/was one of the cornerstones of plant design here.A considerable amount of my colleagues also refuse to spray against it. They will supply the chemicals to the client but won't apply them, citing health concerns( bizzare). I must admit that I have been lucky with my gardens. The moth is a constant problem but the blight hasn't ran amok , like I have seen elsewhere.its just pure luck I guess. My advice to clients that have not invested considerable sums of money is to get rid of it for now.
The yew is flying though..... for now..
Great picture Paul. interesting regarding leaving Box cutting till 18degrees - makes a lot of sense.
Thats a lot of spraying you are doing - every 2-3 weeks all of the growing season?
Pretty much from the march onwards. I change products for the blight depending on the season. I also mix in buxus food to the tank, to give the weed n feed effect,. Watering from below via drip hose irrigation..granular feed etc etc. I try my best to prune on a cloudy day to lessen scorching, but that's just a joke now here. Have not seen a frigging cloud in months!!!joke.
All the best
Paul
Thanks John. I used a Pellenc battery trimmer on on those yew forms yesterday. massive difference in speed and quality of cut.granted they were newish blades borrowed from a colleague, but it's a machine that's worth investing in if you have the work for it. I reckon you need two trimmers, one for this work and one for beech etc. And one battery. The speed can be controlled from very slow to very fast on the trimmer. The lack of strain on the operator is jaw dropping compared to petrol. Just one last test on a conifer hedge and then off to the bank to remorage the house for one of my own.
All the best
Paul
I had a customer who insisted box was cut on Derby Day, 5th June every year - no matter what the weather !! I left mine until late august this year and it has responded brilliantly while neighbours box is still scorched and sad.
Paul, Great photo. Nice design. The bamboo & Aquatic horsetail look to be contained...for now.
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