#BOXWOOD FUNGUS TREATMENT FREE#

#BOXWOOD FUNGUS TREATMENT FREE#

Currently, free testing for boxwood blight is available through the UW-Madison Division of Extension Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic ( ). Therefore, if you find boxwood blight, remove and destroy any affected shrubs. How can I save a plant with boxwood blight? Because boxwood blight is new to Wisconsin and relatively rare, eradicating the causal fungus may be possible. The boxwood blight fungus can survive and produce spores in dead boxwood leaves and branches (including those that have fallen onto the ground) for several years. Once the fungus has been introduced into the landscape, spores can be easily spread by splashing water (e.g., rain or sprinklers), wind or contaminated gardening tools (e.g., pruners, shovels, gloves). Holiday wreaths containing boxwood sprigs have also been documented as a source of the boxwood blight fungus. The fungus is typically introduced into any area on nursery plants that are infected, but not showing symptoms. Where does boxwood blight come from? Boxwood blight is caused by the fungus Calonectria pseudonaviculata (sometimes referred to as Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum or Cylindrocladium buxicola) which thrives in humid, warm conditions. Damage from winter burn (see University of Wisconsin Garden Facts XHT1239, “Winter Burn”), dog urine and other diseases such as Volutella blight (see University of Wisconsin Garden Facts XHT1191, “Volutella Blight”) may look superficially similar to symptoms of boxwood blight. Dark brown to black sunken areas can also form anywhere on the stems, leading to branch dieback Boxwood blight often kills plants shortly after all of the leaves drop. Boxwood blight can cause total leaf loss on a shrub within days of the first onset of symptoms. The spots eventually enlarge and merge together. What does boxwood blight look like? Initially, brown spots appear on the leaves. (Photo courtesy of David Clement, University of Maryland Extension) Boxwood blight can cause severe leaf loss and eventual death of boxwood shrubs. The disease was first detected in Wisconsin (in Kenosha County) in 2018. Boxwood blight has been found in Europe and New Zealand, and was first confirmed in the U.S. In addition, the disease has been reported on Japanese and Allegheny pachysandra ( Pachysandra terminalis and Pachysandra procumbens respectively), two common groundcovers. insularis), and Japanese littleleaf boxwood (B. Boxwood blight can affect any type of boxwood ( Buxus spp.) including European or common boxwood ( Buxus sempervirens) Korean littleleaf boxwood (B. Boxwood shrubs are commonly grown as hedges and as individual plants in home landscapes and public gardens. What is boxwood blight? Boxwood blight (also known as box blight and boxwood leaf drop) is a devastating disease of boxwood ( Buxus spp.) that can cause leaf loss and eventual death of affected shrubs. Authors: Matthew Shulman* and Brian Hudelson, UW-Madison Plant Pathology

Boxwood fungus treatment