I’m happy to say that I am currently seeing some recovery in many of the boxwoods. There are some that look like these:

Obviously, these have not survived and need to be put out of their misery. I am seeing hundreds more that are starting to recover. I will remain vigilant and keep you posted as the season progresses. I’m starting one test site Monday with a modification of what I suggested last month.

If your garden suddenly has gigantic arrows growing at an accelerated pace its not from outer space.

Actually, it’s worse, you have an unconscious neighbor who planted or inherited bamboo.

This actually can be somewhat handled to reduce stress with this and other of your seeming problems. Take a single edge axe, long handled is better than a hatchet and without harming yourself whack it at just below ground level. Note this is not the best thing to do for an axe but trust me it feels good. Sometimes a mantra helps too: Something like durn neighbor, durn neighbor, durn neighbor, (if silent you can make it even more personal) while you’re swinging. Honestly it will keep it on the other side of the fence and each cane should only need a few wracks over the next month.

With aggression temporarily satiated, please give spring a chance to make an impression. There is no wrong reaction as we are all very different spirits, so just enjoy or hate as it happens.