leaves on holly bush dry up and turn gray

Question

What is causing the leaves on my holly bush to dry up and turn gray? Multiple branches have dead leaves. The bush is over 15 ft tall, had lots of berries in the winter, but now looks as if it’s dying.

Answer 1

It sounds like your plant has powdery mildew. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/powdery-mildew-homemade-and-organic-remedies.htm

In the case of shrubs, it would also be a good idea to do some pruning to allow the interior of the plant to be more open so that the air circulates better. Better air circulation will help with keeping the fungus away. Here is an article on how to do that:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/thinning-cuts-in-pruning.htm