Why Are My Holly Bushes Bare in the Middle?

Question

Live in coastal North Carolina, sandy soil. Have holly bushes all around the house. This year the bushes have grown dramatically, but leaves only on the ends of the top branches. Bare in the middle and down to the bottom. What can I do?

Answer 1

This happens when the top and outside of the bush becomes to full and thick. Light cannot make it to the bottom and inside the plant and the interior and bottom of the plant dies.

This can be reversed by pruning to allow more light into the center and also so that the top is slightly smaller than the bottom to allow the light to reach the bottom.