AusBonsai

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)

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

No prob hack away!!!

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!

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)

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

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

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