Dying Boxwood

(Question)

Hello . I have a row of Boxwoods that have been totally stripped in last month . Will these have any chance of foilating next year ? Is there something
I can do to salvage them ? I noticed a few other neighbors are have the same issue

Thanks

(Answer)

Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master gardeners concerning your boxwood. Unfortunately, as with many boxwoods in the Toronto area it appears as if your  boxwoods have been affected by  boxwood blight  

Boxwood blight is a fungal disease which eventually causes the leaves to drop–it thrives in warm, humid conditions.  Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. This article provides some good tips on avoiding boxwood blight 

If you decide to dispose of your boxwood you need to dispose of the dead plant material with the garbage (not in garden waste) once removed you need to make sure that you disinfect your tools with 70% alcohol. For more information on proper disposal of your boxwood refer to Boxwood Blight Removal

This link list numerous of our archived posts on boxwood blight. The Halton Master Gardeners has an excellent article on Boxwoods and the many diseases and pests that infect boxwoods.

Lastly, there are many native alternatives to boxwoods which not susceptible to these diseases and as an added bonus support our local wildlife.

Good Luck