The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development – MDARD was notified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection that infected boxwood may have been sold at retail locations in Michigan.
Boxwood blight, a serious fungal disease that attacks boxwood (a popular landscape shrub), has been detected in Michigan for the first time, in three separate locations in Oakland County.
Wreaths that are displayed outdoors are a potential concern if they are exposed to the elements. The biggest risk comes when people dispose of the infected wreaths after the holidays.
MDARD recommends that anyone who has a wreath containing boxwood plant parts should consider it infected and dispose of it by burning or, even better, double-bagging it and including it with their trash for deposit in a landfill.
Read more about Boxwood blight at: MDARD
(https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125–485223–,00.html)
and MSU
(https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/have-a-closer-look-at-your-boxwood-wreaths-this-holiday-season).