Inkberry hollies not doing well

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natas North East, MD(Zone 6a) Sep 24, 2010

About 2 weeks ago, I planted two inkberries and they don't seem to be doing well (many yellowing leaves falling off). I think I planted them right; I followed the directions that came with the plants: dug the hole 2.5 times the container size, used a 50/50 mix of peat moss and soil, mulched. There was a big mass of roots in the container, so I tried to break them up a bit before planting.

Am I not watering enough? At the nursery, they must have watered the containers at least once a day, but I'm not watering that often. When I do water, I set the hose to a trickle and water for about 30 mins. I planted a bunch of other shrubs the same day (other kinds of hollies, azaleas) and they all seem OK.

Thanks of any suggestions.

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plantfreak78 Rolesville, NC(Zone 7b) Sep 28, 2010

Usually, when this type of plant's leaves turn yellow and fall off it's a response to lack of sufficient water. However it's very difficult to advise you without knowing your growing region (not just your zone, but your state), your soil type, how often you've been watering and what the weather has been like recently in your area. Pictures would also be helpful.

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Oct 01, 2010

I second that emotion - for pictures of what's going on.

Another thought: every evergreen species sheds some old leaves annually. Just like when people think their white pines or American hollies are dying, it is usually just the oldest set of leaves dropping. Are the yellowed leaves interior to the plant, or out at the tips. You don't want to have the newest (tips) leaves yellowing and dropping - that's bad.

A pic, a pic - my kingdom for a pic...

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raebeags Dighton, MA(Zone 6a) Dec 08, 2010

I am in 6a also and the first year I planted my inkberry bushes I had the same problem. Is your area windy? I had three of them on the west side of my house. Two were not blocked by my neighbors house and they lost a lot of their leaves and turned yellow. The one that was blocked by the neighbor's house had a few yellow leaves but it managed to keep most it's leaves. My local nursery said to move the two that had no protection from the wind to a more protected location and to load all of them up with bumper crop around the base of the shrub to promote new leaves to pop through in the spring. Three years later I still have all three plants and they are full and beautiful.

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