Call It 'Herbal Distancing'

M. Ohkura, L. Nackley, C. Scagel, J. Weiland • August 27, 2021

How container spacing can help reduce the impact of boxwood blight in nursery production.

It’s been a year and a half since the COVID-19 pandemic started. We have been hearing how social distancing prevents the spread of the virus and we see signs everywhere indicating we should stay at least 6 feet apart.


It turns out, social distancing may work to keep boxwood blight from spreading in your nursery too.



Wait a minute — boxwood plants can’t move, and they don’t reach out for hugs!


Well, they are often grown tightly packed together with branches overlapping each other, so let’s say they’re as close as holding hands.


In this study, we share results from a recent experiment where we grew boxwood plants either packed tightly together or spaced further apart under different irrigation frequencies to see how that impacted the spread of boxwood blight from infected plants to healthy plants.

Courtesy of the Oregon Association of Nurseries’ Digger Magazine.


By Mana Ohkura, Lloyd Nackley, Carolyn Scagel and Jerry E. Weiland


Dr. Lloyd Nackley is an assistant professor of horticulture and Extension agent at Oregon State University, specializing in nursery crop production. He can be reached at lloyd.nackley@oregonstate.edu.
 
Dr. Carolyn Scagel is a plant physiologist with the Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service in Corvallis, Oregon. She can be reached at 
Carolyn.Scagel@usda.gov.
 
Dr. Jerry E. Weiland is a research plant pathologist with the Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service in Corvallis, Oregon. He can be reached at 
Jerry.Weiland@usda.gov.

Dr. Mana Ohkura is a postdoctoral scholar in Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. She can be reached at ohkuram@oregonstate.edu.


Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Jesse Mitchell, Dalyn McCauley, and Bryan Beck for their assistance with this study.

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This educational session aims to equip nursery producers, gardeners, and plant health professionals with vital knowledge and strategies to combat the pervasive threat of Calonectria pseudonaviculata, the fungus responsible for the devastating boxwood blight. Boxwood blight, a serious concern for the horticulture industry, jeopardizes the health and viability of boxwood plants, significantly impacting the ornamental plant market. Addressing this issue, the webinar will delve into the critical control points in nursery production, emphasizing effective sanitation practices to prevent and manage the spread of this disease. Attendees of the webinar can expect to gain: An understanding of the lifecycle and spread of Calonectria pseudonaviculata. Insight into the latest research and developments in boxwood blight control. Practical guidance on implementing effective sanitation and preventive measures in nursery production. Strategies for identifying critical control points to mitigate the risk of boxwood blight in their operations. This webinar is essential for anyone involved in the cultivation, care, or management of boxwood 
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