What's Wrong With My Boxwood?

This week on Down the Garden Path, Joanne discusses strategies to prevent a box tree moth infestation and explores the moth’s continued impact on boxwoods in Durham Region.

Here are some of the topics discussed in this episode:

• The impact of the box tree moth on boxwoods
• Its discovery in Ontario in 2018 and its recent appearance in Durham Region
• Box Tree Moth Life Cycle: The adult moth has a short lifespan of 14 days but is a strong flyer, making it challenging to control
• The challenges in controlling the pest are due to its rapid reproduction and ability to survive cold winters
• Presents a significant threat to boxwoods and may be here to stay
• Be aware of its presence and consider protective measures for your plants
• Inspect boxwood plants for signs of box tree moth infestation, including webbing, chewed leaves, and caterpillars
• Explore treatment options, focusing on the need to kill caterpillars at the appropriate stage
• The only current control method is biological, using BTK spray, which must be applied diligently from mid-May onwards, ensuring thorough coverage, including the undersides of leaves
• Avoid moving boxwood plants to new locations to prevent spreading the box tree moth
• Explore alternative plants such as yews, globe cedars, strongbox holly, Japanese pieris, dwarf hydrangeas, dwarf mock orange, or dwarf lilacs as replacements for boxwood.
• Focus on ornamental areas rather than hedges when replacing boxwoods

Find more information about the box tree moth:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Landscape Ontario

The Box Tree Moth in Southern Ontario

What’s Wrong with Your Boxwood?

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Down the Garden Path Podcast

On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes. As the owner of .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}