I was outside today and noticed my holly plants are partly black, even the stems. Looks like oil soaked into them. On the underside of the leaves looks like white egg casings (looks like bird droppings) a bit. Can you tell me what is wrong with my plants and what I need to do?
Your problem could be attributed to scale bugs, which commonly affect these plants and can result in sooty mold, the black stuff on your stems. Neem oil can help with both issues. Here is an article or two that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/how-to-get-rid-of-sooty-mold.htm
A friend of mine has two well established Holly bushes (over 20 yrs old). They both have a white, rice shaped thing stuck to the leaves (kind of bug or disease). They are infested. I sprayed 4 times with Malathion. It does not seem to be doing much. Do you know what it is and how do I treat it? She wants to save them if she can. Nothing else around it seems to be infected.
It is possible that it is scale or mealybugs. I like to treat both with neem oil. It is very effective and safe. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm
If there are no flowers, how can you tell a female holly tree from a male? I just can't seem to get my holly trees to develop berries.
This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-male-and-female-holly-bush.htm
I have a Holly bush that has white spots all over the stems and on some leaves. Any idea on what it is or how to take care of it?
This is most likely aphids or mealy bugs. I would treat the plant with neem oil. It is effective against both of these bugs. Here is more information that may help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/homemade-aphid-control-a-natural-way-to-kill-aphids.htm
I was pruning my holly bushes, and under all the leaves was this white substance, not actually round, which then came to a point and there was a spot of black. Just wondering what it was.
It sounds like it might be mealybug. This article will help with that:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm
Neem oil should help. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
I have a Holly Bush hedge which has developed white spots mostly on the underside of the leaves. The spots are approximately 1/4 inch long, and 1/8 inch wide, powdery in appearance. Some leaves have 10-15 spots on each leaf.
It is possible that it is scale or mealybugs affecting your holly. I like to treat both with neem oil. It is very effective and safe. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm
However, the white spots may also be powdery mildew, as you stated they were powdery in nature. Again, neem oil would be effective in treating this as well.
I was trimming my hollies and found that they had what looked like some puffy white growth, and the leaves were covered with what looked like black ash. Then, one of the puffy white growths crawled. UGH. I am assuming this is scale, but I don't know for sure and I don't know what to do specifically for my hollies. They are not new; they are 8 years old and have looked great and healthy until last fall when one looked sick with some yellowing of leaves. I did not find anything visibly wrong with it last year, so I pruned it where it was looking bad and hoped for the best. Now this year, that one and the one next to it are covered in black ash with some white, fuzzy bugs. Can you help me?
It is possible that it is scale but sounds more like mealybugs. I like to treat both with neem oil. It is very effective and safe. The black residue is sooty mold, which is a side effect of the pests. Neem oil can treat this as well. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/how-to-get-rid-of-sooty-mold.htm