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OSU extension plant pathology specialist:

"US (OR): "Boxwood blight is a serious problem"

A disease that attacks boxwood shrubs could potentially become a serious problem in residential and public gardens in western Oregon.

Boxwood blight, which first showed up in nurseries in Oregon in 2011, is making inroads in the Portland area, according to Jay W. Pscheidt, a plant pathology specialist with Oregon State University's Extension Service.

"The message to homeowners is that if they notice something unusual going on with their boxwood they've never seen before, it could be boxwood blight," Pscheidt said.

The fungus is active during warm, wet weather, splashing from plant to plant by rain. Even though this spring has been relatively dry, overhead watering causes the same conditions so the disease can spread like any other year. Using a soaker hose will help. The sticky fungal spores easily attach to clothing, pruners or other equipment and then transfer to other boxwoods, so avoid working with wet plants.

Boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata) causes spots on leaves and stems and eventually defoliates and kills the plants. Stem lesions show up as wide black streaks; on leaves they appear as round spots.

Click here to read the complete article at www.oregonlive.com.
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