Box Blight

Box blight causes leaf spots and stem dieback on boxwood and pachysandra, particularly in wet conditions and poorly ventilated plantings. You'll see dark lesions spreading on foliage and stems. The fungal disease worsens with overhead irrigation and poor air circulation. Control by removing infected plants, improving soil drainage, and spacing plants adequately for airflow.

Remove blighted tissue promptly, cutting well below visible symptoms. Improve air circulation by thinning dense growth. Avoid overhead watering, especially during bloom and new growth periods when tissues are most susceptible. For recurring problems, preventive fungicide applications timed to protect new growth can reduce infection, but cultural controls should be your first approach.