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Expert explains how gardeners can defend themselves against the boxwood borer

2023-06-10T08:12:58.640Z

Highlights: The boxwood borer has been eating its way through Germany's gardens since 2006. The pest from Asia was introduced via the flower trade and now also occurs in Schaftlach. The caterpillars eat whole leaves as well as the bark of the boxwood branches. The borer usually hides inside and under the box leaves and is so well camouflaged that its occurrence is usually only recognizable by the feeding marks. If you see traces of feeding on the outside of the leaves, it may already be too late.



Infested with the borer: Simone Kerkel, chairwoman of the district horticultural association, shows a damaged boxwood. © Thomas plettenberg

In an interview, Schaftlach garden expert Simone Kerkel (56) talks about the activities of an insatiable caterpillar.

County – It is about five centimeters long, poisonous green with black dots, and its gluttony is driving either tears to the eyes or a blush of anger to the faces of gardeners and garden owners in the county. We are talking about the boxwood borer. Later white as a moth with a brown pattern on the edges of the wings, it has been eating its way through Germany's gardens, parks, nurseries, nurseries and cemeteries as an insatiable caterpillar since 2006. At that time, the pest from Asia was introduced via the flower trade and now also occurs in the district, as the chairwoman of the district association for fruit, horticulture and landscape management Miesbach, Simone Kerkel (56) from Schaftlach, reports in an interview with our newspaper.

Mrs. Kerkel, the boxwood borer is currently attacking the boxwoods in some gardens and in the cemetery in the Gmund area. How long has the pest been in the district?

He has been with us for about two years. It can be found all over the district – last year more in Miesbacher Eck and in Waakirchen, this year apparently more in Gmund. Individual members of the horticultural association from all over the district have told us about their experiences with the control. And one thing in advance: It's not entirely hopeless.

Ok then. To be sure: How exactly do you recognize the borer?

The caterpillars have the same colors as the boxwood, on which they feed predominantly. The borer usually hides inside and under the box leaves and is so well camouflaged that its occurrence is usually only recognizable by the feeding marks. The caterpillars eat whole leaves as well as the bark of the boxwood branches. They work their way from the inside to the outside of the plant. If you see traces of feeding on the outside of the leaves, it may already be too late.

So what should you do?

Dispose of infested green waste correctly

The municipal waste management company Vivo helps with the proper disposal of green waste infested with the boxwood borer. On request, it says: "Cut smaller quantities into small pieces and dispose of them in the in-house organic waste bin. Keep the lid closed until empty. Fermentation in the composting plant in Warngau at more than 60 degrees kills the caterpillars, larvae and eggs. If you don't have an organic waste bin, you can also dispose of smaller quantities with the residual waste. Pack the green waste in airtight plastic bags! They are then incinerated in the waste-to-energy plant in Rosenheim. Non-shredded plant parts and also larger quantities can be disposed of either by bag (airtight!) at the recycling center in Warngau or by appointment at the composting plant in Hausham. This results in costs of 48.50 euros per tonne. Up to 400 kilos, disposal costs a flat rate of 10 euros. Disposal via the green waste container at the recycling centers is not possible. Until they are emptied, the pest could spread further. This also applies to the green waste containers at the cemeteries."

You should check early by combing through the apparently healthy boxwood with your fingers and pushing the branches to the side so that you can check the occurrence inside. Another clue is the sticky white web in which the larvae and green-brown fecal crumbs are located.

If I found white web?

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Then you should act very quickly. Because the butterflies form the next generation within eight days. You have to be strong behind it!

What's the best way to do it?

The most environmentally friendly way is to read the caterpillars by hand. However, you should wear gloves. This is because some react to the toxins contained in the caterpillars from the box. The caterpillars should then be burned or poured over with boiling water and disposed of. Some of our members have been able to successfully vacuum the webs with a leaf vacuum. Supposedly, hosing down with a high-pressure cleaner is also supposed to help. You will have to sacrifice a few leaves, but the box will sprout again. And if you keep at it and pick the caterpillars every few days, you have a chance that the box won't have to go away completely.

And if it does?

If you cut off infested branches or entire plants, you should not dispose of them in your own compost, but as recommended by Vivo (see info box).

What about a chemical club?

This is only useful if you treat the Buchs completely and extensively and, above all, very regularly. However, this also becomes very expensive quite quickly, as the products from the hardware store are not exactly cheap – especially in the required quantities.

What about biological agents?

Some of our members have tried soapy water. But that didn't help. There are biological insecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis, but even these are as expensive as the chemical variant. On the Internet you can find recommendations to treat infested box plants with neem oil or algae lime. However, we do not yet have any experience with this in the club. In the meantime, there are also some birds that have discovered the borer as food. Unfortunately, they do not get close to the larvae well, and they often spit out the caterpillars because of the toxins. This is one of the reasons why I completely refrain from using such preparations. Users of the chemical and biological preparations should bear in mind that they also harm the natural enemies of the boxwood borer. I think it is particularly important to pay attention to the self-protection, that of the family, the neighbors and the pets.

Do you recommend planting new buchs after an infestation?

No, because the trouble is already programmed. By the way, boxwoods are almost impossible to get in garden stores because of the borer. As an alternative, you could plant lavender – that also looks pretty.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-06-10

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