I live in Baytown, Texas where it is very humid all of the time. My bushes and now my holly tree and crepe myrtle have gotten this black looking tinge to them. Not all leaves, just some. They also have these little white, rice like looking things on the leaves and trunk and branches. My second holly tree has died and had little white rice like things on it's trunk and branches. What is this and what do I do to save my plants? Let me know if you need pictures. Thank you!
Usually the black on leaves is sooty mold, which develops from honeydew produced by insects, probably Crape myrtle bark scale.
By eliminating the insect, the sooty mold will go away. I have included information on how to reduce or eliminate the scale.
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/landscaping/crape-myrtle-bark-scale-a-new-exotic-pest/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/how-to-get-rid-of-sooty-mold.htm
I have cut some holly branches...my friend wants me to root them as they are from a loved one's garden....I don’t know if I should root them in water or with rooting compound in soil and keep them inside for the winter...
You will have much more success if you wait until it warms up to do this, but it is best to take these cuttings when they are actively growing.
The procedure is pretty straightforward, and will be the same for most plants, trees, and shrubs.
These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/how-to-root-cuttings-from-various-shrubs-bushes-and-trees.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/cuttings/root-stimulating-hormone.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/cuttings/honey-root-hormone.htm
I have a huge Holly tree which produces tons of red berries each year, and the birds love them. This year I do not see any. Can you advise why I did not get berries this year? I did not do anything different in my yard this year. Thank you for any help!
It seems that your problem may be related to weather or pruning. Weather that affects the flowers and causes them to drop means no berries. Also pruning too soon or an early freeze could have cost you the flowers. Read more in this article:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-bush-no-berries.htm
The Christmas type of bush.
You are limited to which cultivars will grow in that warm of a climate. The Yaupon Holly is definitely a warm weather cultivar. This will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/growing-yaupon-holly.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/growing-yaupon-holly.htm
Ilex aquifolium, common holly, aka English holly is the Ilex species most often associated with Christmas images. While it is grown commercially in the Pacific Northwest, it does not do well warmer than zone 8. It is also listed as an invasive plant by California Invasive Plant Council. Therefore, there may be regulations on whether it can be grown in Cal. Note that most hollys are male or female. For best berry production (only on female plants) a male plant should be planted nearby. Here are some holly articles: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/growing-english-holly-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/toyon/toyon-plant-care.htm
of the branches and a few berries. How and when should i prune it to get it back to when I bought it about 7 yrs ago?
The holly needs rejuvenation and can be cut almost to soil level. However, wait till it's dormant to cut it back, in late winter. Has it been repotted or the soil replenished in 7 years? If you have a place in the yard to plant it, I would do that. Seven years is a long time in a container. I usually keep evergreens in a container for about 2 years then move them to the ground.
I created (2) 40”h x 20’ burlap “screens” around my holly plants to protect them from drying out like they did last winter. I used stakes and garden staples to enclose the areas. Will this be as effective as “bagging” the hollies?
Yes. Also be sure to mulch well under your hollies to the dripline but leave 2 to 3 inches of space between the trunk and the mulch.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-winter-care.htm
I regularly walk in a wooded area it is only about 40 years old there are many Oak and Rowan trees and a lot of holly but none of the holly has berries. How can they reproduce when there are only male. Is it the female that has the berries? Not sure.
Hollies will also reproduce by underground runners. This means than an entire cluster or segment of shrubs could be, technically, one tree. Another possibility is that the berries go unseen. Many hollies fruit in the dead of winter, when it is unpleasant for people to walk around. Some could be male, and some could be purposefully sterilized, as not to introduce extra genetics to the area.