High Potential for Boxwood Blight in Southern NJ – beginning Tuesday (4/2)

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/31/2024
Region Location CODE 31-Mar 1-Apr 2-Apr 3-Apr 4-Apr 5-Apr
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Low Low Minor Risk Minor Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Bridgeton D4116 Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Millville Airport KMIV Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Greenwich NJ05 Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Very Low  Very Low  Low  Low  Low  Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Su M Tu W Th F
 Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here)

There is a potential for boxwood blight infections this TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY  throughout much of  SOUTHERN NJ – especially Bridgeton/Upper Deerfield areas. Incoming rains, coupled with consistent temperatures may initiate boxwood blight infections this week.

The rain SHOULD temporarily subside Monday EVENING – with enough time to get a spray on commercial nursery crops. 

  • It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in high value areas if you have not already done so.

  • If BWB is important to your business Use the USPEST – PUSH Alerts – (click here) – to setup weekly email alerts. Create an account, watch the tutorial, and then set up your subscriptions. You select which locations (as many as you like), days you want to receive emails (pick Sunday/Monday), and what you would like to receive alerts about (BWB and a variety of other pests and diseases). Rutgers is not directly affiliated, however this is an incredible tool. 

These advisories are general in nature, change rapidly over time, are site-specific…therefore  Someone from your business should be using this risk model daily if boxwood is important to your financial stability– In 30 seconds you can have a better idea of boxwood blight (and other pathogens) activity in your immediate area! Please contact Tim Waller if you need help using this service (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu), we want to help! 

Fungicides; 

  1. You very well may have these materials already applied as ‘cover-sprays’ – But – be mindful that protectant fungicides loose efficacy the more rain (or overhead irrigation) they are subjected to, and reapplication may be warranted.
  2. ROTATE between Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC codes) to avoid this pathogen becoming resistant to specific chemicals

Format: [FRAC code]: Chemical name (Trade names * no endorsement implied, other options exist)  

  • [M05]: Chlorothalonil (Daconil WS)
  • [M05 + 1] Chlorothalonil + Thiophanate methyl (Spectro 90WDG)
  • [11] Trifloxystrobin + [7] Fluopyram  (Broadform)
  • [11] Trifloxystrobin + [3] Triadimefon (Armada 50WDG)
  • [M03] Mancozeb
  • [12] Fludioxonil (Medallion WDG)
  • [3] Tebuconazole (Torque)BW

DISCLAIMER: The label is the law, always refer to it for allowable host crops, use-restrictions, application rates, reapplication intervals, re-entry intervals (REI), and mix compatibility information. Production and pesticide information on this site are for private/commercial pesticide applicators and landscape professionals only, and are NOT for home gardener use. Provided materials represent examples and do not cover all possible control scenarios. Trade-names listed do not imply endorsement and are used as examples only. Please contact your local agent or chemical sales representative for more information or to discuss additional pest management options.

Resources 

Background on the pathogen: