Knowledgebase
Boxwood Trouble #877187
Asked July 14, 2024, 6:06 PM EDT
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/boxwood-identify-and-manage-common-problems/
We are not sure what is causing the foliage curling/twisting, but so many of the twig tips are dead that we suggest either just starting over, or to cut it back drastically and see if it regrows.
Here is what Boxwood Blight looks like, which tends to drop leaves.:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/boxwood-blight/
Be sure to read and follow the management and timing instructions in the link above, the less spraying the better, that will spare beneficial, non-target organisms and keep your landscape healthier overall.
As far as anthracnose on your lawn, how was that diagnosed? It is not usually a problem on home lawns, but on intensely managed golf greens (that are a different type of grass). We wouldn't suggest a general lawn application of fungicides.
Christine
Thanks so much for the quick response. As much as I love our boxwoods, which were mature when we bought our house 25 years ago, they are just too temperamental. I will pull that one out and replace with a native alternative. We’ve had luck with Inkberry holly gem box (ilex glabra). In fact, we are slowly but steadily removing sections of lawn and beds and replacing with native perennials.
The lawn anthracnose was diagnosed (visually) by the same company that - despite being told not to - treated our boxwoods with imidacloprid. The technician said we had anthracnose and brown patch throughout the lawn. I didn’t question him because our lawn has looked horrible every summer for years, beyond what I would consider heat/drought stress (and I could see signs of fungal disease). We sprayed with a fungicide twice, for the first time ever (the lawn actually does look a lot better this year so far). We’ve stopped spraying the lawn, especially since we’ve worked hard to improve our soil microbiome. Our regular lawn company is Naturalawn with the “Pesticide Free - Natural Alternative” program. They’re not the ones who diagnosed the anthracnose, although one of their technicians did say our lawn had brown patch.
Thanks again for the advice and sorry for the long response!
you are welcome