[Help] Gardeners Question Time.

Green Cross Code Man · Jun 20, 2022

Jack Straw said:
The whole thing is magnificent!

Very many thanks. Of course there are parts of it I may have done differently second time around but overall I'm really pleased with the effect. I spent a lot of time planning the layout for months before I moved into the house, so that probably helped.

Weststander · Jun 22, 2022

A stunning visitor today, I can’t find online which species of butterfly or moth this is.

Bees update - many species feasting today on Nepeta, Echium vulgare and Trifolium rubens (Ruddy clover … this was a recommendation of Hove’s Kate Bradbury).

WATFORD zero · Jun 22, 2022

Weststander said:
A stunning visitor today, I can’t find online which species of butterfly or moth this is.

View attachment 149058

Bees update - many species feasting today on Nepeta, Echium vulgare and Trifolium rubens (Ruddy clover … this was a recommendation of Hove’s Kate Bradbury).

That's a bloody Box hedge moth - KILL IT :rant:

Stat Brother · Jun 22, 2022

WATFORD zero said:
That's a bloody Box hedge moth - KILL IT

Hit it in the head with a hammer, then concrete over the body.

vegster · Jun 22, 2022

WATFORD zero said:
That's a bloody Box hedge moth - KILL IT

No ! Don't....that looks like an eater.

Weststander · Jun 22, 2022

WATFORD zero said:
That's a bloody Box hedge moth - KILL IT

Well. That explains the attack within two years on my first ever box hedges, a couple of metres away.

I was going to check whether the damage was caused by the moth or Box Blight.

I'll drop it off in your front garden in a while.

[On a sensible note, how've you beaten these critters?].

WATFORD zero · Jun 22, 2022

Weststander said:
Well. That explains the attack within two years on my first ever box hedges, a couple of metres away.

I was going to check whether the damage was caused by the moth or Box Blight.

I'll drop it off in your front garden in a while.

[On a sensible note, how've you beaten these critters?].

I have a couple of these pheromone traps, front and back https://www.greengardener.co.uk/product/box-tree-moth-buxus-trap-lure/ which aren't cheap, but at least the lures last all season and get the moths.

However, in addition, for the caterpillars 2/3 times a year all the boxes get trimmed and sprayed with https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224628254716?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=224628254716&targetid=293946777986&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006812&poi=&campaignid=17116423086&mkgroupid=134652533165&rlsatarget=pla-293946777986&abcId=9300856&merchantid=113615271&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo5b_2a3B-AIVEoFQBh1w8wz0EAQYAyABEgLo-fD_BwE I use the concentrate as I have a lot of box hedging at the front and it takes a lot of spray (maybe 4-5 litres per spray). Over the last 3 seasons this has managed to keep them at bay, but despite using the traps all year, I've still had to spray.

There are nematodes that can be used and are far better for the environment, but it's already costing me a fortune just using the two products above. Quite frankly, unless you have a lot of Box, it's probably better just to dig it up and replace it with something else. I think long term that box trees and hedges may be a thing of the past in Britain unless they can somehow breed a species which can survive the caterpillars :shrug:

Weststander · Jun 22, 2022

WATFORD zero said:
I have a couple of these pheromone traps, front and back https://www.greengardener.co.uk/product/box-tree-moth-buxus-trap-lure/ which aren't cheap, but at least the lures last all season and get the moths.

However, in addition, for the caterpillars 2/3 times a year all the boxes get trimmed and sprayed with https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224628254716?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=224628254716&targetid=293946777986&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006812&poi=&campaignid=17116423086&mkgroupid=134652533165&rlsatarget=pla-293946777986&abcId=9300856&merchantid=113615271&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo5b_2a3B-AIVEoFQBh1w8wz0EAQYAyABEgLo-fD_BwE I use the concentrate as I have a lot of box hedging at the front and it takes a lot of spray (maybe 4-5 litres per spray). Over the last 3 seasons this has managed to keep them at bay, but despite using the traps all year, I've still had to spray.

There are nematodes that can be used and are far better for the environment, but it's already costing me a fortune just using the two products above. Quite frankly, unless you have a lot of Box, it's probably better just to dig it up and replace it with something else. I think long term that box trees and hedges may be a thing of the past in Britain unless they can somehow breed a species which can survive the caterpillars

Thanks so much.

Planted in 2020, my first Box, I was aware at the time of both Blight and the moths. But being just two small cubes for effect, I gave it a go. No other Box around here, you're possibly the nearest, so I thought I'd get lucky. Wrong.

I was also aware at the time of alternatives such as Yew, I even think there was a Gardeners World special (in 2019?) on a wide of alternatives, after Monty's were decimated by Blight. The upright Rosemary Miss Jessopp's, was second on my list.

I agree with your overall sentiment. In the end we have to work with climatic and pestilence changes eg to Elm, Ash and others.

Being a stubborn bugger, I might try the products you recommend first.

LamieRobertson · Jun 28, 2022

Weststander said:
Well. That explains the attack within two years on my first ever box hedges, a couple of metres away.

I was going to check whether the damage was caused by the moth or Box Blight.

I'll drop it off in your front garden in a while.

[On a sensible note, how've you beaten these critters?].

Some of my customers have had that issue for the last two years…I’d previously had no one in the thirty years of current employment

LamieRobertson · Jun 28, 2022

Came across these Verbena today…they were 8ft tall…never seen them quite that height before

Wardy's twin · Jun 29, 2022

LamieRobertson said:
Came across these Verbena today…they were 8ft tall…never seen them quite that height before

View attachment 149214

great for bees etc...

Wardy's twin · Jun 29, 2022

Keep seeing a humming bird hawk moth in the garden but the little f*cker flies off so quickly i can't get a photo... Hopefully might visit longer when the buddleia comes out.

Green Cross Code Man · Jun 29, 2022

Weststander said:
A stunning visitor today, I can’t find online which species of butterfly or moth this is.

View attachment 149058

Bees update - many species feasting today on Nepeta, Echium vulgare and Trifolium rubens (Ruddy clover … this was a recommendation of Hove’s Kate Bradbury).

I saw the same the other day in my garden. I wondered last year why my boxes died back. Now I think I know why. BTW if you have Google Photos, use the 'Lens' option, mostly it will find at least similar images. It identified the moth straight away for me.

Stat Brother · Jun 29, 2022

I couldn't be bothered to involve you in another game of:-

'Did I plant this?'

One random plant had bolted out of the ground and then kicked on at an exponential rate of growth.

I came to the conclusion 'no I didn't'...

...when I saw the bulbs it turns out I did, and it's now not happy!

Green Cross Code Man · Jun 29, 2022

LamieRobertson said:
Some of my customers have had that issue for the last two years…I’d previously had no one in the thirty years of current employment

Read about these at the weekend for the first time. They are now considered endemic and no longer need to be reported to DEFRA. I am annoyed as I had three lovely topiaried box trees which I grew from cuttings about 20 years ago.

Jack Straw · Jun 29, 2022

Stat Brother said:
I couldn't be bothered to involve you in another game of:-

'Did I plant this?'

One random plant had bolted out of the ground and then kicked on at an exponential rate of growth.

I came to the conclusion 'no I didn't'...

...when I saw the bulbs it turns out I did, and it's now not happy!

We like playing "Did I plant this?" We also like lots of photos, especially yours!
I'm guessing you've dug up a Dahlia? The Nerines would'nt put on a lot of leaf growth. I assume you've replanted it, and watered it like buggery to get it going again?

Worried Man Blues · Jun 29, 2022

Green Cross Code Man said:
I saw the same the other day in my garden. I wondered last year why my boxes died back. Now I think I know why. BTW if you have Google Photos, use the 'Lens' option, mostly it will find at least similar images. It identified the moth straight away for me.

I've got some sparodic bits of box ( well I think it is) floating around the garden. I am now hoping for some of these beauties, I will go ahunting! Will check if they have invaded Wales first...

Stat Brother · Jun 29, 2022

Jack Straw said:
We like playing "Did I plant this?" We also like lots of photos, especially yours!
I'm guessing you've dug up a Dahlia? The Nerines would'nt put on a lot of leaf growth. I assume you've replanted it, and watered it like buggery to get it going again?

Probably, who cares!

It's had plenty of water since but still looks a little sad - that'll learn it.

Weststander · Jun 29, 2022

LamieRobertson said:
Some of my customers have had that issue for the last two years…I’d previously had no one in the thirty years of current employment

Listening to BBC R4 GQT on Sounds today, they simply recommended the nematodes solution.

I only have two small box hedges, in fairly good condition still, so I'll go for that.

Barham's tash · Jun 30, 2022

Anyone had any issues with their hydrangeas this year? Have what looks like white mould/fungal sacks across two separate shrubs. Not effecting adjacent plants and seems to have suppressed new growth.

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[Help] Gardeners Question Time.

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