What's Wrong with My Boxwood?

[@canxida]

Most likely cause - a dog fouling this boxwood repeatedly. Solution? I would take cuttings from the healthy boxwood (several) and grow them into large bushes in pots. Then you can replace the diseased one (be sure to remove a lot of the old soil too and replace with fresh soil) with one in a pot. Also, you have a few more "back-up boxwoods" in pots in case you need them. Also, be vigilant for dogs. This is exactly what happened to me!

[@practicalshooter6517]

I cut off all the branches leading to the brown leaves. My boxwood came back like new.

[@melindavictoria911]

I was looking to hear about remedies to possible reasons why the plant was dying... Not, just take it out!

[@melm1932]

Annoying!

[@captainhiltz73]

What wrong with my boxwood? “Master Gardener”: Who cares, just replace it. 😂

[@lilianbraidwood4514]

Captain Hiltz you gonna pay for it 😂

[@IrvingNolasco]

Lmao 😂

[@floraspec]

Unfortunately, ask 5 people for an answer you get 5 different answers. Extension Services, from my experience, don't want to recommend anything but "it has reached its maturity and needs replaced". Boiling it down that is what they said. I have heard it all the same from Oregon extension. As a pesticide applicator in Oregon for the last 35 years and as a landscape disease control applicator for the last 11 years working for a company who has allowed me to try various methods to control symptoms. Recently at a recertification training I went to, an industry expert suggested a certain fungicide, chlorothanil, for boxwood blight that I found in the landscape was ineffective but they found in the field tests as effective. In all the testing they do, they take a healthy plant and put a single test disease on it and some untreated plants and make comparisons. I see symptoms of the same disease on all the bottoms of the plants along the sidewalk going to the right (they ignored)(a picture worth a thousand words). I have seen these symptoms on 1000's of boxwood in Oregon. Although chlorothanil is systemic, myclobutanil is much better at rejuvenating boxwood likely due to its strong control properties of powdery mildew which often suppresses boxwood. There are a host of diseases, if foliage is light it is likely a powdery mildew, if it is orange it is likely a rust, if it is yellow it is soil issues reducing photosynthesis (some fungicides labels warn they turn yellow plants green, ironite helps turn plants green easier). Once one plant gets so poor and dies, it can be found to have root death diseases that then spread plant to plant and remain in the soil to quickly suppress or kill new plants. Similar symptoms can be caused by mulches that contain these diseases.

[@MSL_60]

Good points - other damage possibility...it's the neighbourhood puppy dog relief spot!!

[@zagfan44]

Well, that's "uri-nalysis". I tend to agree with that assessment.

[@NicsFavorites]

I believe I have some boxwood bushes that have suffered due to no water during a recent drought. (Probably about 3 weeks of no water.) All the leaves are brown, but the stems are not dry and cracked. They are pliable, which gives me (perhaps naively) hope that they just need several weeks of water and a rest from the heat. I have tried searching the internet, but no one really addresses this. Can watering consistently bring these guys back or am I doomed to digging them up and buying new shrubs?

[@mikeperry1620]

Some cultivars are harder than others. If you open the plant up & look at the branches & see a few leaves on them, cut the plant back to the branches for regrowth. Also too much pruning creates a dense interior; this means the plant will hold moisture which increases potential fungal disease. Severe winter damage is also a possible cause. The biggest problem I see is not giving the plant plenty of room to grow without having to prune heavily. Remember that heavy pruning damages the plant & creates loss of vigor for regrowth

[@t7957r]

So the advice is that the problem could be anything and the answer is to remove it. Well that was informative.

[@vickyreed3956]

Exactly! Ugh

[@zfxman02]

For real, only took him 2:30 minutes to get to the point

[@vin.handle]

I notice in green velvet boxwood hedges it is often the end plant that suffers and I assume it is weather related because they are the most exposed. I plan to spray mine with something to add moisture to protect them drying out during winter and summer months.

[@TheLushwin]

10yrs later we still don't know

[@danhenderson1637]

This is worthless. Basically he says to replace the shrub. However, if you don’t know what caused the damage, how do you know the same thing won’t happen to the next one.

[@lydiafisher2507]

I'm so glad that I stopped it and read the comments.

[@manasvibarthwal5249]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I just started watching this video and your comment was on the top I too stop this video and read other comments now I cannot stop laughing

[@lydiafisher2507]

@@manasvibarthwal5249 it was a waste!🤣

[@manasvibarthwal5249]

@@lydiafisher2507 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@erins.bailey4852]

I am surprised that a common problem with a shrub bordering a front sidewalk is that the corners get sprayed alot with dog urine, which is like a continual fertilizer burn on the foliage.

[@Jonh707]

My exact thought ! I think you’re exactly right ! I’ve seen it many times !

[@misskim2058]

Dog people suck. Worst manners in the world.

[@floraspec]

Actually, I would like to see in the 3 other directions. My imagination, 2 directional concrete walks, there must be a parking lot or a water feature or both. Both of these cause much more disease symptoms than simple evaporation off the concrete surfaces. If they are within 50 miles of the Great Lakes (Illinois). Both these cause high levels of small particle humidity leading to severe disease. Sure dog damage may occur but it would be spotty, look around at corner shrubs where large volumes of open space small particle humidity are venturi funneled into corner plants and those plants difference in color due to disease. Get back to me with your findings.

[@allyoucancook3449]

It was too much water ending up in that corner. Very common.

[@clouds2207]

I'd take it out and anchor the walkway with a decorative concrete piece on both sides. Gardens are always evolving over the years and changes to spaces are welcomed.

[@sonnypruitt6639]

I don't want to replace it! I want to save it!!

[@WuHa105]

One of mine in a row of 7 looks like that, dead in the middle. And another, is more than half dead. They were the 2 biggest and healthiest of all, and now the situation has reversed. I think it's because of the roots being exposed (drying up) and the drought my area has been experiencing. So frustrating....

[@BrandonCalderon-v9z]

Brandon Brandon Brandon Brandon wassup here

[@BrandonCalderon-v9z]

+4

[@misskim2058]

Propagate from a cutting with a terminal end. Then you have a match. And get a motion sensor hose system set just so to spray the humans and their dogs who get close enough to pee on it.

[@GoofyFlan]

WoW! Reading some of the COMMENTS, not the bad advice from the video, saved one of my boxwOOds. A couple of commenters sated that 'Dog piss', was the problem, and it made sense to me. My neighbor, that I HATE, just got a dog and takes him walking around the neighborhood to relieve himself. I put cayenne pepper all around my sick boxwood and one has fully recovered. If the dog chokes...Oh well. His dog shouldn't be causing me a problem.

[@jasonlozano5943]

my advice take it out geez thanks for all the help.

[@stevenschuster]

Talk about round about answer. Replace it! That his diagnosis 😆

[@pennygreer985]

I have read comments what to do to dying boxwoods which are loosing their leaves (my two huge boxwoods) most say dig them up and throw them out. They are huge about 40plus years old. In the past when I have lost other kind of shubs, we have cut them back to the ground and they come back eventually. Is this an option of use some kind of chemical or fertilizer on kt. Will wait for your Nswer. Thank you

[@macdaddybill]

thanks or this video. we transplanted two large 3-4 ft diameter boxwoods last november from in front of the porch to in front of two front windows. They get the same amount of sun and water. the one thrived and the other is a big brown mess I have watched dying over the summer. I have been trying to find answer but it eludes me.There are many chipmunk holes near the dying bush so not sure if that is the cause or the harsh winter we had. But facing reality I will most likely have to replace it.

[@vadaann1279]

macdaddybill take a few cuttings of the good one. Then it will definitely match.

[@vadaann1279]

I would have suggested the owner take cuttings of the healthy shrubs. In just a few years they will have a replacement shrub and some back ups that perfectly match. It may take a while but it is an excellent solution for variety match and affordability.

[@Aggie63]

Wow give the boxwood a death sentence is no bueno. I suppose we all came to this video and searching for answers on how to fix the damn plant. My dog has peed on my neighbors boxwood and I was going to nurse it back to health like all living things and all I get is death sentences and name blaming but no solutions. SMH. I plan on replacing it for my neighbor she never asked me too but it’s the right thing to do. However, I’d take the damaged one and nurse it back to health and make a damn video on how to solve this issues. Whew I feel better 😂 God Bless ! ❤️🙏🏽❤️

[@spinsir1]

I have bought a house with boxwood hedges In front that are extremely over grown. How do I cut them back to size without killing them

[@Prizmatic1658]

It's simple. Dig it out, lay new soil and plant a new bush in it's place!

[@delo3325]

one morning I woke up to my beautiful boxwood shrub powdery white and completely dead through the root! How is this even possible? OVERNIGHT? It easily was pulled out without much effort. Seems impossible! It was 16 years old and faired well every year, lush, green, huge and beautiful! I'm completely perplexed! Anyone know what might have happened?

[@Kwood10]

Aliens

[@Kwood10]

It’s on the corner so dogs 🐕 have been taking a Pee on it & killing it .

[@2Ryled]

What??? I just cut mine and the tops turned brown. I cant afford to rip them up.

[@ophanimofficial2731]

What is a white powdery stuff on my plant?

[@larrywapiennik6959]

That was painful to watch.

[@charlesprisco7610]

I live in NY on Long island what is the best time to trim my boxwood? thanks

[@anaholt4739]

Maybe those neighborhood dogs are going number 1 in the poor shrub.

[@everything2872]

It’s the closest to the sidewalk so it’s the one dogs piss on. Lol

[@Sway_88]

Wrong! Apply copper fungicide sold in big box stores. No sense in removing it. Cut the yellow/brown parts and add some of the copper fungicide. Problem solved!

[@jimczekaj6897]

Could be, might be, kind of, replace it.

[@davidlittle7182]

dogs have been pissing on that one

[@UGAGMJ]

How about checking for root rot? That shrub has an obvious root issue. it has non-selective decline, w/o any real pattern. I say root-issue or root rot.

[@68NYC2]

Good point.

[@woodmann55]

i agree neighbors dog. replace with a rock.

[@Alyssa-qp7lb]

Do these grow very tall?

[@tonm08]

Why on earth are there so many videos using these light grey text boxes? If someone was deaf, they'd never be able to read the white text on this colour background.

[@dcg1976]

It's good advise, some of you just don't want to hear it. The answer: if your boxwood looks like this, it's screwed.

[@mysnellvilleblog]

That was my thought, that a lot of dogs have pee'd on that corner.

[@kurt.wilkinsongardendesign]

Darla no

[@TheFiown]

Looks like dog pee damage at the edge of the garden

[@beqt30]

Buy a green, plant paint spray on Amazon and your problem solved!

[@LindaWhitesides]

This video is worthless! I did exactly what he said-dug up-bought new one but since I did not know what happened to it not sure what, if anything, to do before planting new one. I am so confused from all the research I have tried to do on this issue that I think I will just plant the new one and hope for the best! The boxwood is 20+ years old and we were able to pull up out of the ground so maybe “old age”. Had 2 about 4 feet apart, other one ok? SMDH

[@FranklinDBluth-yq6ww]

Great, so no answer.

[@stratcat4461]

Next to useless information. Thanks, college 'experts'.

[@Dave4974]

Good video. Thank you.

[@coelacanth9821]

good video. Thanks.

[@6catss]

this video didnt say anything on how to fix that.

[@dvdfrnzwbr]

Yes they did. Treat it with a hatchet, axe, and saw.......

[@68NYC2]

Valuable info. Thanks. ;0)

[@faramarzmokri9136]

Short answer the guy has no clue. Ask some else.

[@yealife2947]

Yer boxwood is dying because dogs are pissing on it

[@stephanielindner6087]

No good advice here!

[@adrianmccormack2163]

A dog keeps pissing on it obvious

[@seanparker4746]

yep - pretty bad

[@TheJimford]

Dog Pee obviously...

[@kurt.wilkinsongardendesign]

TheJimford no

[@JerseyCityGirl9]

dog pee

[@laquishamoore555]

Why don't the dislike buttons work

[@SammyFabulous]

agree pointless video.... perhaps show the pruning in the video? God help those that go to this university

[@willytrouble88]

So 3 minutes of my life wasted to learn that this plant needs ripped out. Duh.

[@queen_sophie7515]

Really???? This is the worst video on boxwood I have ever seen. It’s almost comical.

[@ghanvass]

Not at all helpful.

[@spinsir1]

I have bought a house with boxwood hedges In front that are extremely over grown. How do I cut them back to size without killing them