Boxwood shrubs across the Midwest are facing a virulent threat, and it isn't due a harsh winter or neglectful gardeners. The culprit, according to University of Cincinnati biologist Theresa Culley, is the box tree caterpillar. Residents, especially in the East Side of Cincinnati, are observing concerning levels of devastation.
"They're actually quite bad right now. We're hearing a lot of reports about the East Side of town. We've seen an uptick in damage in the last month or so," Culley explained in an interview on WVXU's Cincinnati Edition via UC News. None of the common species of boxwoods found in United States gardens are originally native to the area, which may make them more susceptible to pests like these invasive caterpillars.
Gardeners on high alert might notice the early warning signs of an infestation. Boxwood leaves can begin to yellow and curl, a clear indication of trouble. Signs of the caterpillar's presence, such as silk webbing, are often visible, tipping off gardeners to the invasion. Culley advises a careful and targeted response to this problem. "When you apply pesticides, you only want to do it if you see an infestation," she noted, as per UC News, highlighting the potential harm of preemptive spraying to beneficial mites that support the health of boxwoods.
On the same program, dialogue unfolded with Jon Butcher from Madison Tree Care and Landscaping, and Dominique Peebles, owner of Brick Gardens, who contributed to the broader discussion of fall tree care. Culley urged that while the focus might be on immediate threats, overall tree and shrub health is imperative for mitigating such issues.
As the story unfolds, concerned homeowners and gardeners are turning to experts like Culley for guidance. To hear the complete discussion and gather more insights into protecting boxwood shrubs from these deleterious caterpillars, listeners are encouraged to tune into WVXU's Cincinnati Edition for the full broadcast, according to the UC News.
