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What's killing my Boxwood shrubs in sections?

11 years ago

I'm getting dead boxwood sections destroyed hollowed-out trunk of sections of my boxwood shrub. I have been trying for years to figure out what insects or disease are destroying many sections of my boxwood shrub causing large sections to die out.

Today I tore off part of the trunk of one dead section and found that the trunk disintegrated in my hand because it was dead and hollowed out. When I placed it on the cement, out came a hundred ants pulling out their larvas trying to save them. Are ants destroying my boxwood shrub? A guy at Home Depot thought it was mites, and I sprayed all my shrubs for mites, but it hasn't helped.

Please let me know you know what's causing this. I didn't know ants killed plants, and one should I do about it?

In addition, a section where my boxwood died, I planted a new Boxwood shrub that was about 2 feet tall about a month ago, and it's now just about dead completely. What did I do wrong? It got plenty of water and sun, and I surrounded it with lots of store-bought soil mixed with some hummus. I don't think the bugs got to it yet. It just seemed to have not made it and shriveled up.

Thank you so much for your forth-coming advice.

Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
need some pix ....

but i have to say.. a lot of us gave up on this problem plant a long time ago ... you ought to consider such ...

if they keep dying.. why do you keep replanting the same thing???

this might be indicative of what happens.. when you plant too many of the same thing.. some little problem multiplies itself in to a nightmare ...

i doubt the ants are the primary cause ... unless they are not ants ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: how to post pix
sam_md
11 years ago
assuming that you are talking about English Box, check out this FAQ page from the Nat'l Arboretum. Look for Boxwood Decline.

Here is a link that might be useful: USNA Boxwood page
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unleess you give us your name and password.. we arent getting past the sign in page.. and i dont recommend such WAG.. ants take advantage of already dead wood.. they rarely... kill things.. IF they are ants ... and if you have all this dying.. why are you replanting the same thing??? one of the big problems.. of a vast monoculture.. like a long line of boxwood .. is that once you have a problem.. its going to work its way thru the whole ... any chance.. since they are sounding overly mature.. that these used to be in full sun .. and now they are struggling.. as the deciduous trees have cast them in shade??? and even worse.. are the trees maples???? have the ever been rejuvenated??? perhaps i missed it in your flurry of posts.. but are you new to this garden... ken
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Hey Ken, I was just near Adrian today - drove past Irish Hills - thats a pretty area. As far as taking out the fabric and rock I don't think it will be that bad. Its the rest of it that sounds like a lot of work. I will try digging in there and see how it goes before the round up but you are probably right about it being difficult. I will try to post a pic soon - its a small lot so I don't know about increasing the bed. I am trying to simplify and have less maintenance. There are a couple of large yew bushes as well in the front of the house so just taking out the fabric and rock and putting in a mulch will help. I think I will just keep the size of the bed as is and go with something simple. My house is tiny and I don't think I want to go all out with landscaping - I don't think its worth it. Thanks for the suggestions, now I know how to get the spirea out. I wish these people would have thought about what they were planting together - they had a perrenial planted all along one side of the house I had to rip out right when I moved in because it was climbing into the siding and ripping it off. I guess they never noticed. Thanks again!
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MollyDog
11 years ago
The second boxwood sounds like not enough water. Was the rootball moist when planted? If the rootball is dry when planted, it is very difficult to actually get it wet. Deep watering ievery few days is much better for the development of deep roots. Many people believe standing there with a hose for a few minutes is sufficient.

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