english box

[paddles]

I just got paid to dig out my nieghbours 10yr old english box hedge, there are maybe 6 plants left alive, 3 with bad wooly aphid infestations.

suggestions on the best way to proceed. they are currently with a rough top and tail prune, sitting in my laundry trough.

Can box be hacked back to a trunk? (this would deal with the aphid infestation)

[Jamie]

i havent completly defoliated a ox before, i have read you need to leave a set of leaves on the end of each branch, i wouldnt attempt this on a sick tree though the stress will most likely kill it, get the aphid prob sorted out first then think about trunk lines and that.

a healthy box should back bud well i presume. there isnt a great deal of rock solid info on collecting them.

jamie

[anttal63]

No prob hack away!!!

[Greth]

They hedge happily, should back bud ok. Id be cleaning out lots of branches to open up the trunkline and let the air get to them. I have my own row which I have cast an evil eye on from time to time, some nice little trunks developing there.
Good luck with them!

[paddles]

ok, all plants that appeared worth saving, have been hacked back to 6 inch trunks. the root mass was hacked away in proportion. ALL of them had massive colonys of wooly aphid, and I mean massive. all that has been cut away obviously, and the trunks and root mass checked for remaining aphids.

some nice little trees should eventuate.

Greth, something I noticed, many of them did not have a decent? trunk, due to the fact that they were multi-trunked? If I were you, I'd go over your hedge, and ensure that they are all single trunks (just in case you make the right decision in the future)

[Jamie]

dont stress bout them being multi trunked, this will give you an option/s to choose a nice trunk line and dead wood.

[MattA]

I dug a big old box recently , tho i didnt get paid for it.. I want your neighbours! Should be fine with what you have done. You can cut them back into bare wood & they reshoot with vigor. Give them a good soak of seasol & just make sure they dont dry out. They are said to be slow to very slow but with the regrowth i have been getting on my Japanese box you wouldnt think so. They do take along time to thicken the trunks on so save all you can.

Matt

[Jamie]

quick to get shoots and new growth, slow to thicken in trunks.