By Mapuche
New South Wales,
Australia 
I have had a buxus hedge for over a year now here in Sydney Australia and the plants were doing just fine up until now.
They started going brown and copper in colour.
I went to my local pant store (Flower Power) and the gentleman in the store advised me to add slow release fertiliser.
I have been adding the fertiliser once every two weeks for a couple of months now and the problem is still there and seems to be getting a little worse. My buxus leaves are now getting a white tip on the edges.
I read that this is a sign that the plant is no happy.
I want my plant to be very happy and would appreciate any help on the matter.
I have included a photograph of one of my leaves.
Also some buxus plants close by are totally green and healthy but the majority is not.
Kind regards
29 Jun, 2012
Answers
Box blight could be the problem. There is, so far as I am aware, no cure and can kill the plant. That's the worst problem because they are pretty hardy, certainly in England. If the others are alright it does not suggest it is dry. I've grown Box for many years and have never fed or watered them, which is probably why they have survived under my care. Check the others for signs of infection. You may know that they can be cut hard back and regrow so that is an option if it is normally healthy. Check the internet for any problems specific to Australia.
29 Jun, 2012
Your comments are greatly appreciated.
Thank you both.
1 Jul, 2012
In the UK, Coppering of Box is normally caused by cold wind and hard frost in winter. The fix is a fertiliser and some anti-defoliant. I do not think that is the case with yours, the white tips are a sign of stress, normally the container or soil is too compact for the Box roots - so it could be worth forking over the area to decompact the soil, the compacted soil could be drowning the roots.
29 Jun, 2012