Can i rescue this boxwood?

11 years ago

We recently bought a house and a section of the boxwood out front seems to have died mysteriously.

1. Any thoughts what might have caused this one section to die and the rest to remain healthy?

2. What might we do to rescue it? If not, any advice on replacing it effectively? I noticed some new growth low down on them.

Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

Embothrium

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

With those tufts of re-growth coming from the crowns it does look like cold damage, I'm thinking the one section of hedge was made up of a different kind of box that is less hardy than the rest. Otherwise box are prone to root rot where soils puddle or are otherwise excessively damp.

Another thing you could do is ask the dog - it looks like it knows something.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
cant tell from the pic.. is the growth below.. box????

compare leaves with other plants ...

if so.. cut away the brown dead stuff... and see how it reacts .. speed wise ... and then decide if you are willing to wait for it to regrow ...

how bad was winter ... perhaps bad enough for just those to be impacted ... there are a lot of damaged box in MI .... where are you

pretty sure there are also diseases endemic to box.. others will address that ...

but the bottom line ... is more along the lines of.. will this drive you crazy ...if so ... removal of all.. should be kept in the back of your mind ...

ken
gavinhall thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
gavinhall
Original Author
11 years ago
Hi Ken,

Id be happy to leave it if it would recover in a few years. I suppose i would make sense to cut away the dead stuff, if in fact it is dead. The new growth is at the base of the dead stuff.

Winter was fairly heavy, we're in northern Kentucky. Its a little strange that the other 10+ boxwoods around it didn't suffer at all.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
weather can affect individual plants.. for whatever reason ... perhaps those had some predisposition .. stress... and winter just finished them off ...

give them a few more weeks... then remove dead stuff ...

but do compare leaves .. to insure it is box.. much easier.. after you trim it down ...

ken
gavinhall thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
gavinhall
Original Author
11 years ago
The terrain does slightly lead downwards towards that spot so its very possible that water pooled around its roots causing rot. That plus winter and it being a different strain make alot of sense.

Thanks everyone. Ill wait a couple weeks then trim it back.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
it could also be winter sun on that stone.. heating and thawing the plants repeatedly all winter long ...

and you dont know if thats where prior owners junior relieved himself... for two years ...

and thats the bottom line here... we dont know the history ... often plants become stressed .. a season or two.. before they show the damage... the best example being in severe drought last summer.. and then winter takes its toll... was the injury in drought.. or in winter ...

i also see no weeds in that lawn.. you may have had a lawn guy do some creative spraying ... or ferting ...

or a lawn sprinkler keeps just those.. too wet ..

etc ...

i love these posts.. when we can blame the prior owner.. w/o tip toeing around hurting your feelings.. lol ...

just do confirm what you leave... is actually box .. before you spend all summer watching it grow ...

ken