What’s Killing my Hedge!

[aveatry]

Ok looks like I’ve wasted approx £100 and 12 months on the wrong type of plant. Guess i should’ve posted on here first.
Once again thanks for all the help.

I have had box topiary for years and this / last year end was the first time ever having a problem.

 

[Exedon]

Just spoke to my sister (she's a Dr of horticultural and lectures for R H S)
She recommended looking at R H S website they have several pages on box moth .
Also a reporting form that is helping keep track of the spread.

 

[aveatry]

Just spoke to my sister (she's a Dr of horticultural and lectures for R H S)
She recommended looking at R H S website they have several pages on box moth .
Also a reporting form that is helping keep track of the spread.

Nice one
I have read - probably on the RHS website that they are relatively new to the uk

 

[aveatry]

Ok looks like I’ve wasted approx £100 and 12 months

I take it that you are new to gardening then
The problem with this country is that it is basically SH~T for growing anything much more than turnips !!!

 

[aveatry]

Just spoke to my sister (she's a Dr of horticultural and lectures for R H S)
She recommended looking at R H S website they have several pages on box moth .
Also a reporting form that is helping keep track of the spread.

Could you ask her for recommendations for getting rid of the little shi#s

 

[Gibbies]

Well I’ve managed to get the plants almost back to full health and was starting to hope that the caterpillars were a one-off but guess what I’ve noticed this morning



Yes they are back!

Wrong plant in the wrong location so time to replace.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Did you try the nematodes?

 

[Odds]

Could you try planting something in or around the hedging that repels the critters?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

There are enough box-a-likes that trying to grow actual box is a waste of time in a world of box moth. Like the OP said, right plant, right place.

 

[Gibbies]

I thinking of replacing with this privet

Privet - Golden

Golden Privet hedging (Ligustrum ovalifolium Aureum) is an attractive green and yellow variegated variety of the common privet hedge. Shop online now.

www.hedgesdirect.co.uk

Question, why the big price difference between pot & root grown?

 

[ajstoneservices]

The pot grown has to be fed ad watered. The root grown pretty much takes care of itself.

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Bare root = no pot or growing medium has to be shipped to you. They evidently make up a large part of the cost, especially with shipping. Much better value for money.

 

[JohnD]

Well I’ve managed to get the plants almost back to full health and was starting to hope that the caterpillars were a one-off but guess what I’ve noticed this morning



Yes they are back!

Wrong plant in the wrong location so time to replace.

I have managed to keep mine green and bushy by spraying at two week intervals.

Fortunately it is a miniature ornamental hedge.

Miss a treatment, and it shrinks away into patchy brown.

One pot bush I did not treat was stripped bare.

I've been using Provado Ultimate Bug.

I'm not sure I approve of such high chemical use.

I am considering an alternative.

 

[JohnD]

I take it that you are new to gardening then
The problem with this country is that it is basically SH~T for growing anything much more than turnips !!!

A bad gardener blames his country.

 

[johnny2007]

Those box caterpillars are a menace.
I fought them for 5 years and managed to keep the plants alive.
Then this year I gave up.
The caterpillars became immune to all insecticides, I tried specific ones and home made, spending a small fortune.
The plants died and I pulled them out.
Unfortunate but that's what happens sometimes.