Replacing Box Blight Hedges with Escallonia: Complete Guide

Hello Katherine,

The dieback sounds like box blight (two fungal pathogens), not gravel contamination. Gravel is washed and chemical-free. The best fix is total removal and replacement with a resistant species.

My top pick: Escallonia – glossy leaves, pink/red/white summer flowers, clips into a tidy hedge, tolerates chalky soil, hardy to –5 °C.

Planting steps:

1. Dig out old box; burn debris to prevent spread.
2. Space new plants 18–24 in. apart; bare-root is economical.
3. Dig a trench 1.5 ft wide, deep enough so root crown sits at soil level.
4. Loosen base, fork in bonemeal.
5. Position plants, backfill, firm gently, water heavily ("puddle in").
6. Mulch with shredded bark.
7. Water during dry spells for first year.

Hard work, but a healthy hedge for decades.

Gill