For a long time, boxwood was an indispensable part of our gardens – it is undemanding, densely growing, extremely easy to cut and very easy to care for. Unfortunately, boxwood diseases and pests have been making life difficult for gardeners for several years. Therefore, the three most frequently asked questions among garden lovers at the moment are:
- What to do against the box tree moth?
- Which boxwood is resistant to the borer?
- Are there boxwood alternatives?
Combat box tree moths – tips and alternatives
To question 1: What to do against the box tree moth?
Unfortunately, it is difficult if not impossible to control the box tree moth. Borer moth traps are not used for combating the pest itself, as they cannot destroy either the eggs or the caterpillars of the pest. Rather, the trap attracts male box tree moths, so you can see how many moths are currently on the move. (Actually, it is not a moth, but a small butterfly. (Moths are also small butterflies.) This makes it easier to estimate how many eggs will soon be laid or how many voracious caterpillars you can expect in the near future to have …
Combat box tree moth Tip 1:
With this forewarned, you can try to detect an infestation as early as possible by looking at the eggs and caterpillars. The eggs of the box tree moth can be found on the underside of the leaf. After hatching, the caterpillars migrate inside the plant, where you can recognize them by their webs. Cut out the infested nests or read off the caterpillars.
BFighting the lynx tree moth Tip 2
You can also try dusting the plants with algae lime or applying algae lime dissolved in water. You cannot destroy the box tree moth directly with this. However, the algae lime acts as a natural tonic, so that the plant has more resistance. There are gardeners who report that this preventive measure, applied over several years, brought success.
Combat box tree moth tip 3
Of course you can also inject poison against the box tree moth. However, this measure is not recommended, and there are two main reasons for this. On the one hand, you permanently damage the environment and your garden if you “poisonously fight” the box tree moth. On the other hand, you will not permanently get rid of the pest with poison. Once it’s in your garden, it’s sure to come back, even if the poison has done its job at first.
Even more relevant information
There is no obligation to report if the box tree moth has appeared in your garden. However, it is a matter of fairness that you inform your immediate neighbors if they have boxwood plants in their garden themselves. It is just as important that you dispose of the pests in the residual waste or – even better – hand them in at the green waste collection point at the recycling center, where they are professionally disposed of. You can also burn smaller quantities of infested clippings including borers in your own garden. However, it is essential to observe the respective requirements of your region.
To question 2: Which boxwood is resistant to the moth moth?
This question is quickly answered: there is no Buxus variety that is resistant to the borer or even to one of the common boxwood diseases. If you want to prevent it, it is advisable to choose a boxwood alternative that is not affected by boxwood diseases and pests in the first place.
To question 3: Are there boxwood alternatives)?
The answer to the third question is also clear – but this time clearly positive! Yes, there are numerous boxwood alternatives that are more or less similar to boxwood in terms of appearance and properties. Many garden lovers value the Bloombux as a particularly attractive alternative®. Crossed from the two wild rhododendron species hirsutum and micranthum, Bloombux convinces with its easy-care properties. The slow-growing dwarf rhododendron loves loose soil, but unlike classic rhododendrons it does not require a particularly acidic environment. On the contrary: Bloombux grows in almost any loose garden soil in a sunny to partially shaded location. Even with calcareous or soils he has no problem.