Q.Holly Bushes Losing Leaves
We planted some new holly bushes last spring. Although they didn’t have a ton of berries, the leaves looked great. Over the past few weeks, we have noticed that two of the four we planted have begun to lose leaves. I have never had holly bushes before and don’t know whether this is normal. If not normal, what could be the problem?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
The good news is that it is likely a fixable problem (brown leaves are more of an indicator of disease). There are several things that cause yellow leaves on a holly. Mostly, it is an indicator that the plant is stressed. Here is an article on some possible causes of the stress: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-yellow-leaves.htm
The other thing that may be causing the stress is pests. This would also explain the random nature of the stress. Check the plants carefully for pests. I would even say to go as far as to treat the plants with an insecticide (I like neem oil, myself - effective and organic) just in case. Some pests can be very hard to see.
