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- Q.Saving A Holly Foundation Hedge - My friend is buying a house with a large and beautiful foundation planting of holly. It is the type with ...
- Q.Holly Tree Leaf Loss - Holly tree was very healthy and beautiful through late winter. But all the leaves turned brown and have dropped off. ...
- Q.Black Shoots On A Holly Bush - We have a tall holly bush about 5 years old, which grew from the wild in our garden. Last winter ...
- Q.Holly Bush Disease - The leaves are turning brown and I have lost one of four holly bushes since I noticed the problem last ...
- Q.Holly Disease - My holly shrubs have these clusters of tiny brown clumps at the junctions of the branches of leaves---kind of reminds ...
- Q.Bugs On Holly - Holly has white masses on branches. They are soft, and have red liquid when squeezed. Leaves on bush are dropping ...
- Q.Cutting A Holly Bush - I have a 16 to 20 foot holly tree/bush and would like to cut 8 to 10 feet off the ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
May 16, 2011Q.Saving a Holly Foundation Hedge
My friend is buying a house with a large and beautiful foundation planting of holly. It is the type with the bright green thorny leaves and red berries. The location is northeast Texas. The planting has not been tended or pruned in quite a few years and has gotten huge (halfway up the height of the house). He is afraid they may have to be removed to get to the house for renovation. I would like to prune them down and try to save them. Most of the articles I have seen say not to prune holly drastically and then mostly in winter. Any help on how I may be able to save the holly for him?
Answered by
Nikki on
May 17, 2011
Certified ExpertA.They do not take well to severe pruning. But it sounds like you may not have a choice. I would try rooting some of those cuttings to grow new plants to replace the old ones, in case the old ones die. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/propagation-of-holly-shrubs-with-holly-seeds-or-cuttings.htmWas this answer useful?00
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
May 17, 2011Q.Holly Tree Leaf Loss
Holly tree was very healthy and beautiful through late winter. But all the leaves turned brown and have dropped off. Many branch tips are dead. Most limbs are still alive, as I carefully scraped a small patch of those limbs to find green tissue. Should I prune the tree/thin the branches to give it a chance to recover with new growth/leaves, or will it continue to slowly die and need to be cut down?
- Answered by
Nikki on
May 18, 2011
Certified ExpertA.It sounds like it got scorch. This is common in late winter. Cut back the dead growth and it should regrow its leaves.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 19, 2011Q.Black Shoots on a Holly Bush
We have a tall holly bush about 5 years old, which grew from the wild in our garden. Last winter was the first year it had any berries on it. Today we noticed that there are many flowers on it, and the sprouting out from the centre of the flowers are small black leaves. This presumably is the new growth. What can we do about it? Apart from the black leaves, the bush looks healthy.
- Answered by
Nikki on
May 20, 2011
Certified ExpertA.It may have a bit of sooty mold. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/how-to-get-rid-of-sooty-mold.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 20, 2011Q.Holly Bush Disease
The leaves are turning brown and I have lost one of four holly bushes since I noticed the problem last year. Small spots appear on the leaves initially that grow in size. The spots are brown with a black ring around the outside. Do you know what this is? If so, can I do anything to save the remaining bushes?
- Answered by
Nikki on
May 20, 2011
Certified ExpertA.These articles can help determine what the problem may be: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/diseases-of-holly-bushes-pests-and-diseases-damaging-holly-bushes.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-problems-holly-leaf-spot-or-holly-tar-spot.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 20, 2011Q.Holly Disease
My holly shrubs have these clusters of tiny brown clumps at the junctions of the branches of leaves---kind of reminds me of bits of tobacco; they come off pretty easily, but many of the small branches near these clumps are going brown. What is this affecting my hollies and what should I use to get rid of it?
- Answered by
Nikki on
May 20, 2011
Certified ExpertA.It sounds like it could be scale. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htmTry neem oil: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 20, 2011Q.Bugs on Holly
Holly has white masses on branches. They are soft, and have red liquid when squeezed. Leaves on bush are dropping as well.
- Answered by
Nikki on
May 21, 2011
Certified ExpertA.It sounds like you may have scale or mealybugs. I would recommend neem oil. I have found it to be very effective against these pests. Here is more information on it: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
For additional information on scale bugs, which commonly affect these plants, here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/scale-bug-how-to-control-plant-scale.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 21, 2011Q.Cutting a Holly Bush
I have a 16 to 20 foot holly tree/bush and would like to cut 8 to 10 feet off the top. Is that something that would work?
- Answered by
Nikki on
May 23, 2011
Certified ExpertA.Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/trimming-holly-bushes-how-to-prune-holly-bushes.htm
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