Hollies and Black Root Rot

3 years ago

Hi folks,
I just lost a mature Japanese Holly to what I suspect was Black Root Rot. It turned brown starting in March and eventually completely defoliated. I just removed it and it basically pulled out of the ground without much effort. Before I knew the cause of death, I replaced it with another Japanese Holly (it is in a row of 4). Now I know that the fungus can live in the soil for a while without a host plant.
2 questions:
1)
For the Japanese Holly, to prevent future infections I read that the fungus in question doesn't do well in low soil PH. So, a good idea to add some acidifier to the bed?
2)
Also, some hollies are very susceptible and some are not. Japanese Holly is very susceptible. Along a fence with my neighbor I have Red Oakleaf Hollies. My neighbor's sprinklers hit them. I noticed recently that the sprinklers are running more than he stated and the water shoots over further than I thought and soaks the whole bed. Basically he only has a 2 foot strip of grass between his driveway and my split rail fence and hollies and his sprinklers are aimed at me. Not sure if this variety of holly is vulnerable to root rot. This neighbor doesn't know much about plants and clearly thinks I'm a geek because I have actual interests, including horticulture. Meathead comes to mind. Do you guys know if this variety is vulnerable? I may cover the split rail fence with a tarp along where the hollies are for now.
Thanks!

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
was it or were they recent transplants???...

if so.. im not sure you should jump to root rot before ruling out all other transplanting issues....

or presuming the fungus is in your soil based on supposition ...

i have no clue why anyone would be watering in late october no matter where you are ... you ought to suggest to him he is wasting water and electricity ..

unless ... where are you.. on the border of some desert??? .. big city name please ..

i have gardened for 50 years.. and never had a root rot .. this isnt something that pops up everywhere ...

contact your county extension office and ask them if this is a 'thing' in your county ... if not.. lets figure out what the real issue really is ...

ken
saabturbo99
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Ken,

I'm on Long Island.

They were not new transplants. They were planted in 2015 and had been thriving when one died suddenly. Google "Japanese Holly Black Root Rot". It's a thing in the mid Atlantic region. The roots showed telltale signs based on what I read.

No idea why my neighbors still water, and do so so much. I have a green organic lawn that I hardly irrigate and it looks great. They have weak looking chemical lawns that they water like crazy.
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Esther-B, Zone 7a
3 years ago
Aha! I recently posted about the dying branches on one of MY Japanese hollies, Soft Touch. There is another large branch completely dead now. Cutting off the dead branches is leaving the shrub looking kind of empty looking. Since I have a year warranty on the 7 Japanese hollies I planted a few months ago, and the other 6 are just fine, I'm thinking to dig this one up, present it to the nursery where I purchased it and get a replacement. But, instead of planting the replacement right into the ground where the first one was dying, I would put it into a pot over that spot.