Boxwood blight found at Carl Sandburg Home site; visitors asked to stick to trails

FLAT ROCK, N.C. (WLOS) — Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site said this week that Boxwood blight has been discovered in 150-year-old boxwood shrubs on the property.

Staff began removal of the affected boxwoods on Friday, March 19, wearing protective clothing, bagging and removing the plants to prevent spread of the blight to other boxwoods.

Carl Sandburg Home officials said, although they do not know how the boxwoods were initially infected, visitors are asked to help save the remaining historic boxwoods and help prevent the spread of blight to their own neighborhoods by staying on trails and limiting human and pet contact with these plants.

Boxwood blight is a disease caused by a fungus that was first diagnosed in North Carolina in 2011. It has also been reported in 27 other states.

There is no cure, so infected plants must be completely removed from the landscape to prevent further spread of this contagious disease.

Common symptoms of boxwood blight are brown leaf spots that lead to dieback of branches and, eventually, the entire plant. After dying, the leaves will fall off the stems. Black streaking is sometimes visible on the stems.

Boxwood blight fungus can spread on pruning tools, clothing, equipment, or other items that come into contact with infected plants, so officials warn that if you come into contact with an infected plant, be sure to sanitize your tools, clothing and shoes.

A solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach is effective for tools, while clothing can be laundered as normal.

More information about the blight can be found HERE.