What would cause this problem on my Holly tree? I have two Hollies and they both show these same symptoms. I am hoping that it was just from the cold weather. We has an early warm spell where the temps were in the upper 70s for a week then the temps dropped to lows in the mid 20s. It was during that cold spell that I first noticed the browned leaves. These Hollies are in a location that gets a bit of wind.
- Brent
You've pretty much described all the classic conditions needed for a bit of dessication.
Have you noted this look more on one side of the plant than the opposing? I would expect the windward (and sunward) side to look worse than the side which may have been sheltered by other plants, or a building/wall/etc.
Provide your holly with a balanced moisture condition this year, and the new growth should mask the tatters pretty quickly.
Thanks for the information. It is definitely worse on the side that gets wind. My wife was worried that they had some fungus and were going to die. This is our first winter living in this house and I have never grown this type of holly before (Ilex opaca I think...crossing my fingers that they are smaller cultivars).
BTW, when is the best time to prune these and still maintain good berry production? If I prune them in the winter will they still flower in the spring?
- Brent
Yes, prune them in December when they're dormant and you'll have greens with berries for a wreath or what have you.
I agree with claypot -- pruning in early winter for holiday decorations for all manner of greenery (hollies, conifers, boxwood, etc.).
But could he cut off the burnt leaves now?
He could, but needn't spend time on that kind of project. The green surfaces are still photosynthesizing, which contribute to the plant's recovery from the winter insult. Any of the leaves so damaged (that they no longer function) will likely abscise soon anyway.
If Brent is interested in fabulous mug shots of his holly, then by all means prune them out. I bet he has more pressingly important matters to attend to, however.
Like expanding his Viburnum collection...
So true, poor little leaves.
a couple of weeks ago mine were looking pretty shabby also, its not the cold,mine
stay green all winter but if abcsize is what they call shedding there leaves, I believe that is what it is they look a little bare then they get new leaves and look fine, I live on the windy flat open prairie and haven't had that happen, I have blue princess variety,
it was right after I fertilized them with hollytone and i thought i burnt them with fertilizer, but they have rejuvenated, I think it was the normal abscizing.
Thanks for thinking of me. If I wanted to trim up the hollies I better do it real soon or I will have to battle the bees as they are just starting to flower. I will let them go and see if I can adapt a December pruning strategy. That sounds good in theory, but we will see how motivated I feel in December. Unfortunately these hollies are too big of a plant for their location so they will need to be trimmed every year or two...but they are handsome.
Yes, Viburnums...I really could use a few more evergreen shrubs and the local Viburnum rhytidophyllum are looking pretty good about now. I am missing the Juddii shrubs I left behind at my previous place. Unfortunately I am spending most of my time these days mulching, weeding and fighting aggressive plants (like mint and primrose).
- Brent
Check out the bark.
If you have tiny pin holes and or tracks in the bark, you have a case of scale insect.
You will need to spray soak all parts of the tree and the surrounding ground with some scale killer and do it again in ten days to take care of the young-uns.
The scale insect is very tiny and has a hard shell which does not make it easy to kill, the second spraying in ten day's is the one that does the trick, as the young do not have the protection of the armour.
I have already lost one tree and am hoping that I may have saved the second one.
Both of these hollies were in the wind, which made me think that this was causing the problem(dessication).
Brent,
I am puzzled what variety of holly is that? The shine and thickness of leaf looks quite a bit like Nellie R Stevens but of course the leaf shape is all wrong. I ask this because I think your damage might be a combination of winter burn and insect damage would you mind checking the under side of the leaves for obvious insect damage? Thanks kt
I have assumed that these bushes were standard Ilex opaca. One is about 15' tall and the other is about 10' tall, they have red berries in winter and look like they would grow 1' per year if I let them. I did check the twigs and bark for signs of scale and I did not see anything. I had looked at the leaves before and I did not notice any obvious insect damage signs. I do not recall seeing such damage when I moved in a year ago.
- Brent
