Question
I have 5 boxwood bushes in the ground and get about 5-6 hours of sun a day....they are about 12 years and  were all doing fine... now I notice 3 out of the 5 have brown dry leaves unlike their unusual green leaves..... is there anything I can do to keep this from happening .... is this a disease etc?

Answer
Hi Mary,

Volutella Leaf and Stem Blight. The fungus Pseudonectria rouselliana (Imperfect stage Volutella buxi) causes this disease, which is most common on nonvigorous plants but can also occur on healthy plants. Symptoms include cream to light pink fruiting bodies of the fungus on leaves and twigs. The leaves turn from normal dark green to bronze and then tan. Infected leaves turn upward and lie close to the stem instead of spreading out like leaves on healthy stems. To prevent and control stem blight, practice good sanitation by removing diseased branches as soon as they are noticed to prevent disease spread. Prune out dead branches at least 4 inches below the diseased tissue. Remove and discard all dead leaves and debris that have lodged in the crotches of limbs. Thin boxwoods as described above to improve light penetration and air circulation. Protect plants from unnecessary wounds and winter injury. In severe cases, fungicides can be used to protect new foliage, but they will not cure diseased branches. Atomic Grow is an organic fungicide or you can go to your local nursery and they can sell you a fungicide.  kathy