What’s Killing my Hedge!

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Gibbies

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One by one they keep dying! Not through lack of water that’s for sure. Could some kind of insect of caused this?

Thanks
 

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Is that box. If so then it is box caterpillar have a close inspection and you will find green and black caterpillar which produce a silk to tie leaves together to pupate inside.
 
Box? I can’t remember tbh.

This photo of one of the last ‘healthy’ plants may help.
 

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Yes it looks like box to me - have a close look you will find the caterpillar. As a side note you refered to it as a hedge but planted that far apart if it is box will never form a hedge. Its too far apart and is very slow growing.
 
Box? I can’t remember tbh.

This photo of one of the last ‘healthy’ plants may help.


Why Not Indeed said:
Yes, I can see the very caterpillars that aveatry described, in that picture.
Click to expand...
I see it now!

So are they dead dead or could they recover?

Any deterrent spray?
 
 
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Treat the plants that look ok as the chances are they will be there but just not eat so many leaves yet.
 
Ok good news thank you all.

I thought caterpillars would turn to a butterfly or moth in a few days but seems I am wrong. How long they normally stay as a caterpillar?
Wish I’d visited this forum a few weeks ago!
 
Gibbies said:
Ok good news thank you all.

I thought caterpillars would turn to a butterfly or moth in a few days but seems I am wrong. How long they normally stay as a caterpillar?
Wish I’d visited this forum a few weeks ago!
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I think they are caterpillars for weeks from a tiny thing to about 1/2 inch long until they then pupate into a moth but they are likely to go back to the plant as a moth to lay eggs and start the process again.
 
Japanese Holly is a good substitute to box as it looks similar but not prone to box caterpillar
 
These little £$%^s have decimated my box hedge as well. I sprayed Bug Clear Ultra 2 last year and managed to see them off long enough for the plants to mostly recover. However they are back this year and because it just won't stop raining for longer than say 6 hours, I can't spray again, so they're just getting on with it and I can't do anything about it :mad:

Thinking about throwing in the towel and replacing with Euonymus or something. Can't keep doing battle every year forever more.
 
TeaAndBiscuits said:
These little £$%^s have decimated my box hedge as well. I sprayed Bug Clear Ultra 2 last year and managed to see them off long enough for the plants to mostly recover. However they are back this year and because it just won't stop raining for longer than say 6 hours, I can't spray again, so they're just getting on with it and I can't do anything about it :mad:

Thinking about throwing in the towel and replacing with Euonymus or something. Can't keep doing battle every year forever more.
Click to expand...
I wanted to try and avoid chemicals so started off by picking them off but every time I thought I had them all and looked the next day there were just as many so bug clear it was. Seems to of done the trick but now have a dead looking - was ornamental pyramid outside the front door.
I think maybe the answer is pre emptive spraying but at £12-14 a go its going to add up. (I know its a concentrate that you mix with water )
 
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