boxwood shrubs - Ask Extension
I had four boxwood shrubs in my front bed. They seemed to have contracted the disease going around where they lost most of the leaves around the base ...
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boxwood shrubs #876850
Asked July 11, 2024, 3:13 PM EDT
I had four boxwood shrubs in my front bed. They seemed to have contracted the disease going around where they lost most of the leaves around the base and nothing was growing back. I took them out this week. I would like to plant new boxwood shrubs as replacements, but am wondering if there might be issues left in the soil from the disease that affected the previous shrubs. Is it "safe" to replant new boxwoods in the same place?
Delaware County Ohio
Expert Response
Thank you for your question to Ask a Master Gardener Volunteer with eXtension.
Unfortunately, the news is not good when it comes to replacing those boxwoods with new ones. If your plants did have boxwood blight (see the below information to better understand, identify and learn about this disease) it is not advised to replant with like replacements. The soil can harbor this fungus for several years.
https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1359
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/bp-203-w.pdf
Sorry, perhaps you might consider replacing your boxwoods with one of the following shrubs:
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (Shrubby cinquefoil) Here are more photos and information from Go Botany New England Wild and from Plants of Wisconsin.
Rosa blanda (Smooth rose) Here is more information from Minnesota Wildflowers and from Evergreen Native Plant Database.
Symphoricarpos albus (Common snowberry) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden and University of Connecticut Horticulture.
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (Coralberry) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden and from Washington State University Whatcom County Extension.
Best of luck to you.
Unfortunately, the news is not good when it comes to replacing those boxwoods with new ones. If your plants did have boxwood blight (see the below information to better understand, identify and learn about this disease) it is not advised to replant with like replacements. The soil can harbor this fungus for several years.
https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1359
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/bp-203-w.pdf
Sorry, perhaps you might consider replacing your boxwoods with one of the following shrubs:
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (Shrubby cinquefoil) Here are more photos and information from Go Botany New England Wild and from Plants of Wisconsin.
Rosa blanda (Smooth rose) Here is more information from Minnesota Wildflowers and from Evergreen Native Plant Database.
Symphoricarpos albus (Common snowberry) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden and University of Connecticut Horticulture.
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (Coralberry) Here is more information from Missouri Botanical Garden and from Washington State University Whatcom County Extension.
Best of luck to you.
