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Garden designers love boxwood. Dense hedges, attractive bed borders and interesting shaped trees can be designed with the evergreen plant. What are the causes of balding from the inside? What can help?
In a nutshell
- various causes when boxwood is bare from the inside
- Can be bare by pests or diseases
- Missing or incorrect pruning measures impair dense growth
- old plants often become bare
- hard pruning can often help
boxwood
70 boxwood species are known worldwide. Only the common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is native to Central Europe.
The light boxwood is very hard. Pots were made from it centuries ago. Today the ornamental shrub can be found in many gardens. It is ideal for creating dense hedges. It is also decorative when used alone.
Hardly any other wood can be shaped as well as the boxwood.
Boxwood bare: causes
However, a prerequisite for the attractive appearance is its dense growth. However, if the box tree suddenly becomes bare, there can be various reasons behind it:
1st age
Old boxwood often shows signs of fatigue. This age-related change does not result in any major impairments for the shrub. However, an old boxwood that has been bare from below does not look particularly attractive.
With a strong pruning, you can also save an old boxwood.
2. Lack of editing measures
If the box tree is left to its own devices, it will lose its beauty and dense growth after a few years. The ornamental shrub should therefore be pruned at least once a year.
Only use clean, well-sharpened cutting tools to cut trees and shrubs. If blunt knives, scissors or saws are used, bruises and tears can occur, which form entry points for diseases. Remember that every pruning is an intervention that the plant has to endure. Straight, smooth cuts heal well and allow for a quick recovery.
After a strong pruning, it takes some time before new growth occurs.
| Strong pruning of old trees | Regular topiary of well-groomed trees and shrubs |
|---|---|
| 01 Choose a dry day in spring when no more frosts are to be expected. | 01 Choose a dry day in April for the first topiary of the year. At this time you will recognize the budding and can take corrective action. |
| 02 Remove all stunted and older shoots. Leave only the young shoots. The younger shoots are not only more beautiful, they are more elastic, sprout well and can be shaped better. | 02 First remove weak and dry shoots. Now shorten all shoots by about ten centimeters. |
| 03 If necessary, you can make further shape cuts. There should be at least four weeks between pruning measures so that the wood can recover well. The last cut should be in September. |
Notice: While you can make gentle shape and care cuts all year round, a radical pruning between March and September is prohibited by law.
3. Poor maintenance
Boxwood is basically very undemanding. It tolerates dry, sunny locations and even copes well with polluted air on main roads.
Horn shavings provide the boxwood with much-needed nutrients.
In addition to regular cutting measures, sufficient nutrient supply and a suitable location are also crucial. The ornamental tree prefers humus-rich, loose soil. Therefore, supply the plant regularly with organic fertilizers such as compost or horn shavings. This increases vitality. The specialist trade also has special boxwood fertilizer ready. The robust plant only needs additional watering if it is dry for a long time. As with all evergreen trees, it is important to water occasionally, even in winters with little rainfall.
4. Pests
If the box tree is bare from the inside, a pest infestation can also be the cause. The most feared pest of the beautiful wood is the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), a species of butterfly that has migrated from East Asia. The pest has no enemies in our regions and can therefore spread almost unhindered. Its larvae damage box trees. An infestation is often visible from the inside by the baldness.
Combat instructions:
- First collect visible caterpillars and destroy them.
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth or algae lime on the infested trees.
- In sunny weather, wrap the boxwood in a black plastic sack.
The inconspicuous moth (left) and the voracious caterpillar of the dreaded box tree moth
Tip: After an infestation with the box tree moth, a vigorous pruning can save the ornamental shrub.
5. Diseases
If the box tree is bare, fungal diseases can be the cause. Then help is needed quickly. If you wait a long time, you risk the irretrievable loss of the plant.
Combat instructions:
- Cut back the diseased wood vigorously.
- Only water the root area so the leaves stay dry.
Notice: Thoroughly disinfect pruning tools after pruning diseased plants.
frequently asked Questions
How can you prevent a bare boxwood?The most effective help against balding is regular pruning. To prevent fungal diseases, which can only develop in damp and warm conditions, we recommend thinning out the plant thoroughly. On the other hand, weekly spraying with a mixture of milk and water can help to protect against fungi.
When do the larvae of the box tree moth become active?The larvae hatch as early as spring, when temperatures rise above ten degrees Celsius. You should therefore check your box trees regularly for caterpillars and visible webs from March onwards. Collect the pests carefully.
Can yellow stickers help against the box tree moth?The yellow boards are ineffective in combating them, but they can help make the pest visible.
What can be the reason for the lush green of the boxwood leaves becoming lighter?A nutrient deficiency is usually the reason for the lighter color. Feed your ornamental trees with compost. Special boxwood fertilizers are also available in specialist shops, which can be added to the irrigation water and optimally meet the needs of the plant.