Hello Sandra,

Please check out our new user-friendly diagnostic guide designed to help you quickly identify common problems affecting boxwood shrubs and determine practical next steps for treatment and prevention.
New boxwood diagnostic tool now available to help Michigan homeowners protect their landscapes - Gardening in Michigan

A simple tool for a complex problem

The “What’s Wrong With My Boxwood?” guide breaks down the most common issues into easy-to-recognize categories based on real visual symptoms. Homeowners can reference photos and descriptions to distinguish between:

Box tree moth feeding damage, including chewed leaves, webbing and rapid defoliation.

Winter injury, such as browning foliage, leaf drop and sunscald.

Boxwood leafminer infestations, which cause blistered, yellowing leaves and characteristic “clicking” when branches are shaken. Additional information: Boxwood leafminer: A hidden pest in plain sight at this link:
Boxwood leafminer: A hidden pest in plain sight - Gardening in Michigan

Boxwood psyllid, known for creating cupped or puckered new leaves.

Boxwood blight, a highly infectious plant disease causing leaf spots, stem lesions, and rapid branch defoliation.

Boxwood mites, which create fine stippling and bronzing on leaves.
Each issue is paired with clear pictures and concise descriptions, helping users easily compare symptoms on their own shrubs with those featured in the guide. Beyond diagnosis, the guide provides actionable management tips for each issue and emphasizes environmentally responsible management. It highlights when chemical control is effective—and when it is not recommended.

Why this tool matters now
Michigan has recently seen an increase in reports of invasive pests like the box tree moth, which can completely defoliate and kill boxwoods, sometimes within a single season. At the same time, unpredictable winter conditions and increased disease pressure are making boxwood care more challenging for residents and landscapers alike. This diagnostic guide should help to empower gardeners to respond early—before minor issues escalate into major losses.

To access this guide, go to thE BELOW link:

WhatsWrongWithMyBoxwood_DiagnosticGuide2026.pdf

IF YOU ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS - PLEASE GET A CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS FROM THE MSU PLANT AND PEST DIAGNOSTICS LAB

I highly recommend you send all your images by e-mail to the MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics Lab to get a confirmed diagnosis.

Their email is <personal data hidden>. Please include your first and last name.

The experts there can also provide you with the best treatment options.

The lab will let you know if they need a sample sent.

The lab may also ask for additional images. So be prepared.

Their website is at this link:

Plant & Pest Diagnostics (msu.edu)

Their Contact Information is at this link:

Contact Us - Plant & Pest Diagnostics (msu.edu)

This link will explain the details on submitting a sample to the MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics Lab:

Submit Samples - Plant & Pest Diagnostics (msu.edu)

I hope this helps!