Box blight or not maybe?

[DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat]

The end of last autumn onwards I thought that this Box had blight (first pic) and thought I’d better get rid. Unfortunately, after a back injury, I was unable to do anything about it at the time (no other Box in my garden or nearby). I’ve just been pruning other things and general tidying and noticed that there seems to be a lot of new growth on it (second pic). So was it not blight in the first place, or was it but it can come back from it? Either way should I leave it or remove it? Bit confused.

Yes that was blight. The blight is an infestation of bright green caterpillars with black heads - small and hard to spot. Those slightly webby bits are spun by the Caterpillars

All the caterpillars do is eat the leaves; so yes the plant can recover. However highly likely even if it does, the caterpillars will return (two seasons: late spring and autumn).

You can pull the caterpillars off by hand (unlikely you'll catch them all); spray with washing up liquid, or go industrial and use a pesticide (). Or give up and plant something new! That is what I've done.

Ahhh, ok I thought if it was blight it wouldn’t come back to life. So I’m thinking I might just remove it and replace with something else. It’s only a small part of a hedge that is mainly Bay and Laurel so not a great loss. As I said I’m pretty sure no other Box nearby but does it contaminate other plants? Better to be safe than sorry I suppose.

If you're in an area where the caterpillars are prevalent its very hard to rid as they keep coming back. I think it's worst in the South & South East and they're slowly making their way up the country. After a few years of battling with them, picking them off and spraying every day, we've finally given up and pulled the hedge out. I don't think they go for other plants, just that type of hedging.

Definitely blight & yes they keep coming back. I have had to treat the last 2 years, you can get the pesticide off Amazon

Playplayaway (love the name, we must be the same age ). Yes, I don’t think, for the tiny amount I’ve got, I’m going to even try then tbh. I don’t like giving up and throwing things out (or burning the bejaysus out of them to be precise) but sounds like I’d be on a hiding to nothing to try and keep it going. Thank you all 👍🏻

The blight is an infestation of bright green caterpillars with black heads - small and hard to spot. No, blight isn’t an infestation of caterpillars, it’s a fungal disease!

Box is currently suffering from two major problems, one is box blight, the other is box tree caterpillar. They are not the related.

@LollyLol you're conflating two different issues there. Blight is fungal and you can spray for it although it's as well to cut out affected and remove and burn debris. Box tree moth us the caterpillar thing but is mostly only in the SE at the moment

That looks like caterpillar damage to me, not blight. Hence this year's new growth being fine so far.

Yes, Yamadori is correct, that is caterpillar damage, you can see the slight cobwebbing. As already stated, it's different to blight. Cut away any dead areas, start feeding regularly now, and use a moth trap, and it should recover.

Doh yes you're all right I am conflating the two things! Yea its caterpillars they are everywhere in the south east. Swept through my town and destroyed every box i sight last year. They'll be back this year. They're spreading. You may as well give up on box hedging unless you're prepared to use pesticides (I'm not, it's just a hedge). Plant something else; a little holly I would be nice ans there ain't a Caterpillar in the world gonna eat that.

@LollyLol

Doh yes you're all right I am conflating the two things! Yea its caterpillars they are everywhere in the south east. Swept through my town and destroyed every box i sight last year. They'll be back this year. They're spreading. You may as well give up on box hedging unless you're prepared to use pesticides (I'm not, it's just a hedge). Plant something else; a little holly I would be nice ans there ain't a Caterpillar in the world gonna eat that.

Haha I'm pretty sure there are leaf miners for holly, just like everything else.

I have a stupid amount of box hedging in my work garden. We do have some blight issues but my predecessor sprayed so I am expected to. (They pay relatively well and there are lots of ways my input is welcome).