Q. Can you tell me why my boxwood shrubs are showing
signs of dying?
signs of dying?
A. The usual reason for this kind of dieback in our
climate is either a watering problem (keeping the soil too wet or not watering
frequently enough which is drought) or wet mulch against the trunk of the plant.
climate is either a watering problem (keeping the soil too wet or not watering
frequently enough which is drought) or wet mulch against the trunk of the plant.
 |
| Boxwoods dying back because soil is kept too wet, they were planted too deep or wet mulch is in contact with their stems. |
Be sure you pull any mulch back
away from the stems of the plants. Six or 8 inches is enough just so it does
not touch the stem when it is wet.
away from the stems of the plants. Six or 8 inches is enough just so it does
not touch the stem when it is wet.
Wet mulch can contribute to
collar rot where the lower stem or trunk rots from too much moisture and the
presence of disease organisms. The organisms are always there, they just need
the right environment to develop. The right environment are wet conditions
against the trunk and plant stress. Sometimes they don’t even need the stress.
collar rot where the lower stem or trunk rots from too much moisture and the
presence of disease organisms. The organisms are always there, they just need
the right environment to develop. The right environment are wet conditions
against the trunk and plant stress. Sometimes they don’t even need the stress.
Die back can also be because the
soil is kept too wet. Roots need to dry out between irrigations. If they don’t,
they will die back causing the stems to die back as well.
soil is kept too wet. Roots need to dry out between irrigations. If they don’t,
they will die back causing the stems to die back as well.
Keeping the soil too wet or too
dry can look identical above ground. This is because root dieback or death is
the same thing as drought. The roots die and can’t supply water to the top and
the plant stems die back due to drought for different reasons; lack of water or
too much in the soil causing roots to die.
dry can look identical above ground. This is because root dieback or death is
the same thing as drought. The roots die and can’t supply water to the top and
the plant stems die back due to drought for different reasons; lack of water or
too much in the soil causing roots to die.
Pull the mulch away and let it
dry out before it gets too far along. It is most likely not a disease in the
tops but in the stems or roots.
dry out before it gets too far along. It is most likely not a disease in the
tops but in the stems or roots.