Faced with box tree moths, box tree dieback and other problems, many a garden owner decides to give up what seems like an endless struggle and remove the box tree. However, this is often easier said than done, especially when the book is many years or even decades old.
The boxwood belongs to the flat-rooted species
Roots are difficult to remove
The boxwood is one of the flat-rooted plants, so you rarely have to dig deeper than about 60 centimeters when removing it. However, the plant develops a very widely branched root system, whereby the individual strands can become very thick and strong with age. In particular, tearing out boxwood hedges is difficult because the roots of the individual plants intertwine and can hardly be separated from each other. The use of an excavator is therefore particularly important for older and/or long hedges, as you can hardly remove them with muscle power. Saw off the above-ground parts of the plant before you start digging up the roots.
This will prevent the boxwood from sprout again
If removing the roots is too much work for you, you can also just leave them in the ground. Of course, this only works if you take appropriate measures at the same time to prevent the Buchs from sprout again. In addition, replanting the area can be problematic because the roots are just below the surface. Furthermore, after an infestation with some highly infectious diseases, soil replacement is recommended to avoid reinfection. If you want the roots to remain in place, you can prevent them from budding with these measures:
- Cover the area with an opaque film for a few weeks.
- Fertilize the area with bog bed fertilizer or fill with bog bed soil.
- This lowers the pH of the soil, which Buchs doesn't like at all.
- Cut off new sprouting plants from time to time.
- If you are persistent, the roots will die off after a while due to the lack of supply.
Also, be sure to apply a new layer of topsoil to be able to replant the area afterwards.
Dispose of boxwood properly
Healthy boxwood can - well shredded and mixed with lawn clippings - be used as mulching material or thrown on the compost. However, because of the risk of infection, diseased plants may be disposed of with household waste or residual waste in order to prevent the further spread of dangerous diseases.
tips
You don't necessarily have to rip out healthy box, you can also carefully dig it out and move it - or give it away to interested garden owners.