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kael_miguel

What’s wrong with my holly bushes?

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

I actually can’t remember what these are. I think maybe Japanese holly. But regardless they have been looking really thin i just noticed it this year. If you see the attached picture you can notice that you can see right through. i thought these were supposed to be more full but it just looks sad. It looks like there is a good amount of breakage. I just hope they aren’t on their way to dying. I’m not sure what happened. There were some spider webs in some of these I don’t know if they are being destroyed by insects ? I have no idea. Oh I did actually

sprinkle that Holly Feed stuff around them but it didn’t seem like it helped. What can i do ?




Comments (21)

  • 7 years ago

    More pictures

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Are you giving them some supplemental water? Fertilizer?

  • 7 years ago

    Illstep I’m not sure how long they are in direct sun, the house kind of shades them a little being a foundation plant. I planted them maybe 2 years ago. There is new growth on them but it’s very small amount and just not as dense as it’s supposed to be.


    and Yardvaark, I only watered them the first year just until they were established. That’s about it. And I also recently used that holly tone stuff.

  • 7 years ago

    Where are you? The nearest big city will be sufficient.

    Kael Miguel thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    I’m in zone 6a I believe.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    You don't say how long they've been in the ground, but if they are within the first couple of years, they could still use supplemental water if there are dry periods. I presume Holly Tone is fertilize...? You'd need to check.

  • 7 years ago

    z6 is about half the us... and very divergent.. big city name .. plz

    Kael Miguel thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
  • 7 years ago

    When new growth is being matured hollies shed mature leaves excessively when nitrogen deficient. Because they are shifting nutrients to the young leaves, sacrificing the old ones in order to keep the new ones adequately supplied. Review your fertilization program to see if maybe you need to apply additional nitrogen. If you are in the US your nearest USDA Cooperative Extension Service branch office should be able to advise you on this issue. They will be likely to need to see a sample of an affected shoot.

  • 7 years ago

    Ken I live in york, pa and I guess Harrisburg would be the closest big city.

  • 7 years ago

    Here’s some pictures. Could it be mites or something?


  • PRO
    7 years ago

    If they went through a dry period only one time after the first year when you were giving them supplemental water, they could lose a lot of leaves, which probably won't come back. You'd have to wait until enough growth occurred to cover the "abused" areas, which will happen in time ... so long as another unattended, extended dry period does not occur.

  • 7 years ago

    Should I be concerned about these webs in them?

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Not if it's a spider web. But if it's lots of fine webs throughout the plant, then definitely look for critters and treat with the appropriate insecticide.

  • 7 years ago

    It doesn't appear to be spider mites, but the filmy webs of a grass spider. These busy creatures make sheet webs in the lawn and over low shrubs and hide underneath in order to pounce when victims are entangled.

    The webs are unsightly, use a stream from the hose to rinse them away. You will likely catch sight of the spiders if you do that bit of housekeeping.

    Spider mite webbing is much finer than what you've pictured and there would be the telltale stippling of an infestation.

    Doesn't appear to be a Japanese holly. Are these planted in native soil, by the way?

    Kael Miguel thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    There are various critters that spin webs other than regular spiders, including some worms. Look carefully on the underside of leaves and in nooks and crannies. Get a magnifying glass if you need to. If you don't see critters, it is probably just a regular non-plant-eating spider.

    Kael Miguel thanked Yardvaark
  • 7 years ago

    Here’s a picture of the spider(s). I just noticed the webbing is on most of my foundation shrubs . They are everywhere. Should I be worried? And who could I even call to come look and get an expert opinion? I feel like any landscaping business might not know what is going on.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Just a common old garden spider.....nothing to worry about and nothing to do with whatever may be ailing your holly (not a Japanese holly, btw). Garden spiders are good things and should be encouraged.

    FWIW, hollies can be cut back hard and they will backbud or produce new growth from bare stems. Your plants look perfectly healthy otherwise and with no sign of insect or disease issues so why they are so leggy and sparse now is most likely due to cultural conditions....lack of water at some point, possible cold damage at some point or issues with the root ball when planted.

    Kael Miguel thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 7 years ago

    It’s blue holly I don’t know if it’s a male or female either blue princess or blue prince

  • 2 years ago

    so my blue hollys look the same. yellow and very sparse, not bushy! what did you end up doing?

  • 2 years ago

    Do you use Hollytone? I use that some seasons, if there are any yellowing or dropping leaves. I also have different results with hollies depending on the location. Some that are in more shade have elongated branching and are less vigorout. I have one in the foundation that faces East, so it gets a lot of morning sun and that one grows like crazy.