Holly tree leaf infection?? - Ask Extension
Our two holly trees have many leaves with various problems.--See picture. All new growth is coming in looking very good. If this is an infection, ...
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Holly tree leaf infection?? #177698
Asked April 28, 2014, 10:08 AM EDT
Our two holly trees have many leaves with various problems.--See picture.
All new growth is coming in looking very good.
If this is an infection, is there anything we can do that would help??
There are many old holes on the trunks which you had previously identified as sapsucker peckings. You had noted that these might encourage infections.
Thanks for any help!
All new growth is coming in looking very good.
If this is an infection, is there anything we can do that would help??
There are many old holes on the trunks which you had previously identified as sapsucker peckings. You had noted that these might encourage infections.
Thanks for any help!
Wake County North Carolina
Expert Response
It's been a tough year for alot of shrubs and other plants due to the long cold and wet season. If your plant is showing new growth that is healthy, that's a good sign. I would trim off any branches that are dead and prune out some of the older branches from the interior if it has gotten thick and ingrown. This will allow more light into the interior.
It is generally impossible to diagnose plant diseases accurately by looking at leaves. And since they are coming in healthy the disease period may be over. You could submit a sample to the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at NC State (through our office) for $20, and they could probably identify the disease if there is one, but many diseases are not treatable anyway. So I would tend to focus more on making the shrub healthy by getting the soil tested for pH and fertility at the NCDA Soil Testing lab on Reedy Creek Road,, mulching lightly, providing adequate sun and water, and pruning out dead limbs.
It is generally impossible to diagnose plant diseases accurately by looking at leaves. And since they are coming in healthy the disease period may be over. You could submit a sample to the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at NC State (through our office) for $20, and they could probably identify the disease if there is one, but many diseases are not treatable anyway. So I would tend to focus more on making the shrub healthy by getting the soil tested for pH and fertility at the NCDA Soil Testing lab on Reedy Creek Road,, mulching lightly, providing adequate sun and water, and pruning out dead limbs.
