Buxus: disease and pest control

Buxus is today impossible to imagine in our gardens, the gardeners also make much use. This plant is i.e. the hit of our garden. This he has largely due to its versatility o. A. As a hedge plant, tub or patio plant and also in solitary form pruning (animal shapes, cones, spheres, spirals ,...) It uses quite a shrub shear.If we go back in time we find the box above to return vicarage gardens or farms, they are also know as the traditional plant dedicated on Palm Sunday, and thus a whole year in Christian homes can be found. These small green sprigs are a sacred sign, remembering Jesus of Nazareth, a sign of peace and reconciliation.
WHAT DOES MY ENEMIES boxwood?
A. INSECTS

boxwood bladvlo
1. The Shrub bladvlo (Psylla buxi)This is a small insect 3 to 4 mm, yellowish to green. The young insects are called nymphs, they are very abundant secreted a white, water-repellent was finished (shiny - sticky - sweet water), which serves as protection for potential enemies but also against dehydration. In the adult insect - image-is wax are called absent.
From late April one notices on the nymphs. They find them on the tips of the leaves (growing points) where they suck, causing the spoon-shaped leaves curl. Under these curled leaves, we find many hidden bugs: nymphs. This one gets sucked by a severe growth inhibition. In early June, we find the dress back in the course of the summer eggs take that back next year to become a new generation of fleas magazine. The bladvlo limited to one cycle per year, making the fight easy especially when caught early is to prevent harm is great!
Control:Chemical: one spray in early April before the real attack of the bladvlo with a product based on Imidacloprid. The damage can be seen in the spoon-shaped curling of the leaves.Organic: at the sight of the first young coiled branches prune them immediately and give the compost facility.
2. The Shrub spider mite (Eurytetranychus buxi)These are microscopic, brownish-red insects unlike other mite species rather large feet, so they move quickly. The orange-colored eggs laid in silk can only find with a magnifying glass. These mites are sucking and biting mouth parts. They live several generations per year (one generation lives three to four weeks).
Their life cycle is as follows: egg - larva - nymph - adult eight-legged mite.Only the old leaves are affected, one sees that the distinctive pale stripe-shaped dots can also chlorophyll lemon colored. In young leaves, this is not. In severe cases the leaves are so badly damaged that if it were white shoots arise. Especially in sheltered under glass or on the veranda, this attack threatening, especially the high temperatures and lack of necessary humidity play a role.
Control:Chemical: spray with a regular spintdodend agent (acaricidal) or any product baisi of the active substance to the name bromopropylate listening.Organic: oaTyphodromus pyri predatory mites, which can eat up to 8 mites per day. These mites are gekeekt to special companies which they in turn sell to some garden centers.
3. The Shrub topgalmijt (Aceria unguiculata)These very small insects, barely visible even with 10x magnification, are fairly common on Buxus. They have two pairs of legs, both larvae and adult insects. They are recognizable by their worm-shaped body. They live mainly in the diseased plant buds, shoots and bones of Buxus.The insects cause growths and discolorations so the plants look dirty. The malformed leaves are spindly, mature shoots. The branches that are affected have a dark view. All this has a severe growth retardation results.
Control:Chemical: spray the end of March with a product based on AmitrazOrganic: prune damaged tops and make the compost facility or burn.
4. Apple mussel scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi)This 2 to 3 mm wide scale insect is shaped like a comma (as the name suggests!), It occurs mainly on the bottom of the plant dried twigs. The female scale insects under their shields put the eggs away. If the shield of the dead female mealybug loosens the eggs that are visible wasvormig look that reminds us of some fungal disease.
This type of louse causes little damage even if she looks more impressive than the above species.
Control:Chemical: spray with mineral oil (oil-Elephant), where no deterioration is visible or spray in late May when you release the shield with a product based on Imidacloprid, propoxur or Cyhalotrin.Organic: Too much affected twigs into compost facility wegsoeien and throwing.Note: All above products are not available for the enthusiast.

B. PHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
Buxus if not in the right place, there may be problems. This can be avoided by Buxus on a calcareous, nutritious soil to plant, preferably in partial shade. Also a good water management is necessary!
1. Green fenceThis is caused by algae or algae that clog the pores so the plants grow less well and did not look fresh. This is due to a wrong location, such as too much shade, not dry the leaves by an excessive moisture.
2. Flowering shoot and leaf yellow edgeThis is mainly due to lack of fertilizer and lime. Due to fertilize the plants with much nitrogen plants can revive the poor. This is especially common in poor soil in pots and Buxus composition. Plants that are constantly wet feet show the same picture and give a brownish green color. The trade is one special boxwood fertilizers.
3. Broken branchesOccasionally there is brown, dead branches, this is not a disease but is usually due to an abrupt switch, this is thought to mowing the lawn, children playing, roaming pets etc ... .. Our dear quadrupeds may also cause damage by our boxwood hedge against a urinal so the leaves burn, it gets worse in sunlight.