The Tennessee Department of Agriculture confirmed that a new boxwood blight quarantine will go into effect Feb. 4. According to AmericanHort, the new quarantine includes all material currently known to transmit the disease, including Buxus species, Sarcococca species, and any/all material containing this plant material, such as compost, mulch, soil, and waste. Any regulated material entering Tennessee must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and under compliance agreement in accordance with a boxwood blight cleanliness program, such as that outlined in the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) suggested Boxwood Blight Best Management Practices for prevention of this serious pathogen.
In 2017, 11 Tennessee wholesale nurseries participated in a boxwood blight cleanliness program. See the full list of participating nurseries here.
HRI revised its best management practices last fall. The BMPs provide the production basis for complying with the Tennessee quarantine. HRI and AmericanHort continue to support the Systems Approach to Nursery Certification (SANC) pilot, which also qualifies as a cleanliness program.
Photo: boxwood blight in the landscape. Provided by Margery Daughtrey.
Latest from Nursery Management
- [SNEAK PEAK] Leading Women of Horticulture: Louise Schaefer and Susan Tantsits
- The Growth Industry podcast Episode 10: State of the Horticulture Industry
- Tennessee Green Industry Field Day scheduled for June 11
- UTIA and UT Knoxville research teams will develop automated compost monitoring system
- Ken and Deena Altman receive American Floral Endowment Ambassador Award
- [SNEAK PEEK] Leading Women of Horticulture: Becky Thomas
- [WATCH] Taking root: The green industry’s guide to successful internships
- [SNEAK PEEK] Leading Women of Horticulture: Angela Burke
