Box Caterpillar

[LIZS]

Is it worth trying to save the affected plants or removing them? Is it exclusive to box or might they spread to other plants?

@LIZS I used that last year and it worked. But for some reason I bought a ressolva one this year and it hasn't worked as well 🤨

We’ve been spraying ours with Xen Tari and picking the bastards off too. UK birds won’t even eat them.

We have a row of 12 shaped into balls in our garden, a couple of conical ones flanking steps and a box parterre, so it will be an aesthetic disaster if they all die!

I’ve used XenTari before with good results but thought it’s not licensed for the uk at present? Might stick up if it’s available.

What plant was it that one of the gardeners at Chelsea recommended instead of box? He said that it looked very similar and could be pruned/used for topiary but was immune to box caterpillar.

Mark Lane, that's who recommended it!

Boo I thought this thread was going to be about cutting your hedge into a caterpillar shape.

My nemesis the buxus caterpillars. I did my second spray of the Xentari yesterday, but there's been heavy rain all day, so I expect that's all gone now 😣. So I hope the remaining caterpillars ate up yesterday.

I'm off on a work trip, so won't be able to spray again for a while and I'm scared I'll come home to a bald hedges and balls 😜 The caterpillars had already eaten half my buxus whilst I tried other sprays for the last couple of months.

@RebOrHon I didn't find xentari on Amazon, but only in some weird site, but as it had been recommended online I thought hey hope this is ok and it did arrive fine. Looks like something Del Boy may have made up, but did kill a few caterpillars on the first dose. I dislike using the chemicals, I worry about what it's doing to me breathing it in and my face felt weird ( I wasn't that close but maybe just paranoid)

@Smartsub ❤️

@cantgetpast here is the pittosporum hedge! It hasn't grown much yet as its only been in 2 months, but.... no caterpillars!!!

I was at Sissinghurst today, and I noticed that all of their box hedges are immaculate I wonder what they do...

@SeaRabbit they will definitely spray it with a professional grade spray which only needs doing every 6-7 weeks, unlike xentari which I think is every 10 - 14 days.

I note on this page Decis is named as a professional spray and I see you can get it online if you search for it.
Box Moth Treatments

We get ours sprayed professionally and they are also immaculate.

@SoTiredNeedHoliday , where did you find someone to spray yours professionally if you don’t mind me asking? I’m currently spraying every couple of weeks with xen tari , it’s not a massive job but even so if I can get it done less regularly with a pro then it’s worth it. Thank you.

@Anjo2011 I asked at a few local garden center's (independent ones) if they knew of anyone and they put me in touch with a lady who does it.

Its worth it from our point of view as I no longer need to worry the garden will be destroyed.

@SoTiredNeedHoliday , many thanks I will ask locally .

These are the plants now. No evidence of box caterpillar bit no great recovery either. Are they still doomed to the incinerator?

Ilex crenata makes great box hedging.

I don't use chemicals in my garden as it's wildlife friendly, so I am slowly removing my boxes. Sad as it is, I cannot keep affording to get the eco friendly one using oils and spraying constantly.