Box Moth

Hi, I have a bux. Last year caterpillars attacked it and now it's all grey and no leafs. Please see pics. Is it salvageable or a lost cause? I heard somewhere if trunk is OK it should grow with treatment. Happy for people's thoughts and suggestions. Thku...

 

@RaM
The RHS has a list of alternatives to box.
List of the best box alternatives / RHS.

 

I get similar, although last year was not as bad as the year before.

There are a few old box trees in the woods where I walk and they are years old with stems 6ins in diameter and they are all leafless.

You can get caterpillar specific sprays but it would need repeating regularly.

 

I’d give up on it. I battled against the caterpillars for about 6 yrs, picking them off religiously from April to Sept, but they won in the end. I left the skeleton branches in situ and ivy is clothing it gradually. Evergreen and trouble free!

 

That happened to me last summer. I didn't even know it was box until the moths arrived! There were so many they were all flying up out of the grass as I mowed it.

I removed it, and noticed a neighbour a few doors down removed theirs at the same time. I would have better off leaving it like @ViewAhead as it was the only thing holding the neighbour's fence up!

 

That's the sort of size that would be of interest to wood engravers for print making.

 

Yes it was the preferred wood for chisel handles and such like as well,very hard and dense.

 

I became very well aware of how hard it was when I cut mine down! Filled two green bins with the stuff.

 

Some time ago I saw Chris Beardshaw, cut box back to near the ground and half bury it with compost. The hedge regrew, but I think it took a couple of seasons to be a decent size. Probably the moth returned later so maybe not worth it. At the College Gardens where I volunteer, they have removed nearly all the box as it's become affected.