Need Help Identifying Shrub And Advice

11 years ago

I have about 5 of these shrubs in front of my house. Close-up photo also included. What are they?

Also, most of them look like this one, healthy on top, dead below. At least one was mostly dead. I was able to snap the dry dead branches off with my hand, and a small part of the shrub looks somewhat healthy. Not sure if I should replace the mostly dead one, or if they are all a lost cause or what.

Any suggestions?

Featured Answer

Embothrium

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Japanese holly. If you are in the US try your local Extension office for help with the dead zone problem. They will want to see samples of the affected parts.

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Comments (6)

Art Aizley
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks! What is the "local Extension office"?
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Embothrium
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
USDA Cooperative Extension Service. Search the name of your county with "extension" after it.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
whre are you ;..

is the damage related to snow depth

how bad was your last winter or two ...

though most peeps ask.. will it recover ... i like to point out.. that if its in front of the house.. do you really want to spend 2 or 3 years .. hoping it will eventually fill in ...

this is also an example of planting a monoculture ... if you had 5 different types of plants.. you would probably only have one with a problem.. as it stands ... all of your plants have the same problem ... so if it comes to replacement ... do not plant all of the same thing ...

and if you do such.. plant whatever.. a few more feet from the house ... i bet my shiny nickle.. they are all brown on the brick side of the plant also ... no sun back there

ken
Conor MacDonald, Rhode Island, z6b
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Those look very healthy and well established, I wonder if the dead zones are because they need to be thinned (not enough sunlight is reaching the lower branches to make them worth maintaining, so the plant drops those leaves). Lots of goof guides online about thinning, search "thinning and pruning Japanese holly" etc. I bet they will rebound and look beautiful within a season or two with the right care, way faster than any new plantings could! You're lucky to have such a handsome bunch!
Mike McGarvey
11 years ago
Do they have good drainage?

Does the roof have gutters?

Mike