Box Tree Caterpillar Rock Dust

Full Description

As featured in the European Box Tree Societies Magazine – Use Volcanic Rock Dust to control Box Tree Caterpillars. Rock dust is used commonly to improve soil fertility, but now it has been discovered that dusting you box plants with rock dust when caterpillars are discovered and then twice a year in April and July not only controls the caterpillars, but helps the plants to recover after they have been attacked. Application is simple. Shake the dust all over the plant either by hand or with a sieve (wear a mask) making sure the leaves are covered (on all sides and within the plants). This will initially give the plants a grey dusty appearance, but this will go once it rains, but the effects will stay giving long-term control. Apply a few handfuls per sqm. Available in 1kg packs, that will treat approx 2 sqm of box plants / hedges and 5kg tub that will treat up to 10 sqm. 

Box Tree Caterpillars – These caterpillars feeds on box plants causing severe defoliation and produce large amounts of webbing. As the caterpillars feed, areas of dieback may appear, which will be especially apparent on trimmed plants. Box Tree Caterpillars are greenish-yellow with black heads and once fully grown the caterpillars reach up to 4cm in length and will have a thick black and thin white stripes along its body. In the spring, the moths appear and there can be up to 3 generations of caterpillars a year. Box Tree Caterpillars over-winter as caterpillars rather than as moths, so it is essential to kill as many of the caterpillars as possible before the temperatures drop in the autumn. The caterpillars over-winter, hidden between leaves that have been spun together with silk and will then emerge next spring as moths to reproduce and produce the next generation of caterpillars. Use Volcanic Rock Dust to control Box Tree Caterpillars. Rock dust is used commonly to improve soil fertility, but now it has been discovered that dusting you box plants with rock dust when caterpillars are discovered and then twice a year in April and July not only controls the caterpillars, but helps the plants to recover after they have been attacked.

Other Uses for Volcanic Rock Dust – Rock Dust is commonly used to improve soil fertility – use it to treat veg gardens, lawns, fruit trees, tubs and baskets. Adding Rock Dust results in high yields, tastier fruit and vegetables and increased resistance to pests and drought. It is also beneficial to add it to compost heaps and wormeries where it will encourage worms. Can be applied all year round as a top dressing except when the ground is frozen or in very windy conditions. Mined from Scottish quarries, this remarkable volcanic rock is natural and organic.

• Apply as a top dressing at a rate of 0.5kg per sqm.
• Add 1kg per 50 litres when mixing through compost and soil.
• Apply to Tubs & Baskets – Add a tablespoonful onto the surface diameter of a 15cm pot / basket and water in. Two applications per year.
• Add a dusting to your compost heap as you add material to promote composting and reduce odours.
• Add a handful to your wormery every month to give your worms a treat.