1 of my 2 Burford holly bushes has this large area that has this white stuff on it. It is causing the leaves to die off never to return on the branch. This is the 2nd yr its been like this. It is just on one side of the plant that is coincidentally next to a downspout and is also part shady. I am thinking it has something to do with the water- although we are so very dry this year.
The white stuff looks "cob-webby" and moldy all at the same time....
back of a leaf...
bare branches....
Don't know if this info will help or not: it is about 5 yrs old and other than this area, seems OK. I will say though that even before this wihite stuff got on it, it never fruited as heavily as the other holly, which is about 6 ft away from it.
Anyone have a clue?
I'm no holly pathologist/entomologist, but it looks like woolly aphids. I suspect someone will find your thread soon and give a better response. Just keep it on the front page for a week or so by bumping it again if necessary.
Guy S.
Thanks Guy. I am off to research those critters.
I'm not a holly brainiac by any means either but I can offer a few thoughts. That thing is so infected with either fungus or insects (or both) that you're going to need to remove all infected leaves, rake away all infected leaves - and if you want to try and give it a go, spray that baby or babies - whichever it was with a multi-purpose insecticide/fungicide lables for hollies.
Then all you can do is hope it begins to refoliate. And continue spraying it for at least another season - as I would and then see how it does on it's own. Also spray the soil at the base of it "good" as well.
That's definitely holly-hell if I've ever seen it.
Dax
Ooohh this doesnt sound good at all. Here I was thinking it had something to do with the dampness.
Thanks Dax for the info. Will pass it on to the DH.
Our neighbor had one like this and the humidity does help to make it worse. Guess what treatment did the best on it? Ivory Snow mixed well into buckets of water and thrown on it everyday. Also, she occasionally used a spray of Insecticidal Soap.
If you want to save it you have to be persistent and start your treatment immediately.
