Boxwood Blight Quarantine

- What is Boxwood Blight? It's a disease that affects boxwood shrubs, causing leaves to fall off and the plant to die. It was first found in Pennsylvania in 2012 and is caused by a fungus.

- How to Identify It: You can’t always tell just by looking if a plant has boxwood blight. A lab test is needed to confirm it.

- How It Spreads: The fungus spreads through insects, animals, and gardening tools. It can live in fallen leaves for years.

- What to Do:

- Prevention: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has rules to stop the spread of this disease. They have a quarantine to prevent boxwood blight from spreading.

- If You Have It: Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture or your local Penn State Cooperative Extension Agent.

- Sanitize Tools: Clean your gardening tools, equipment, and gloves, especially from July to October.

- Disposal: Don’t compost plants that had the disease. Wash your clothes thoroughly.

- Current Studies: There is no cure yet, but protectant sprays can help prevent healthy plants from getting sick.

- For Businesses: There is a “Boxwood Clean Program” to help growers and sellers manage the disease. Contact your local Department of Agriculture office if you're interested.

Participants in Boxwood Clean Program in PA

Conard-Pyle Company