What’s Killing my Hedge!

[JohnD]

Pity, because I like the smell.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

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.

Did you try the nematodes?

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

Have you thought of Euonymus Japonicus .. apparently a good alternative to box without the issues

Euonymus Jap. Green Spire X 6 Plant PackDefault Title

Euonymus is a bushy evergreen shrub, they can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs as well as small trees, often with fine autumn colour, and small flowers followed by colourful fruits. Euonymus require full sun and thrive best in well drained moist soil. Euonymus Jap. Green Spire an upright variety...

www.grasslands.co.uk

 

[johnny2007]

Did you try the nematodes?

Probably, I don't remember all of the products I bought.
The most effective was called xen-tai or something similar but the little buggers became immune to it.

 

[Gibbies]

As the bushes are only small I thought I might be Abel to contain the damage by removing the caterpillars when needed. However they just keep coming back it is a hopeless effort :/)