Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Holly bush stems damage: why?

stringersimon67stringersimon67 Posts: 21
in Problem solving
Hi there, Could anyone tell me what is going on with lots of stems on my holly bush? They seem to be cracking open, yet they don't appear to be affecting the growth of leaves past the injury. Is it normal or is it some sort of disease? Should the effected stems be removed to encourage new healthy growth? There is also a lot of long thin weak looking stems which droop down and aren't growing up or vertically. Again is this normal or is something wrong? Many thanks, Simon

Posts

  • stringersimon67stringersimon67 Posts: 21
    I've just been told it looks more like an aucuba japonica, but my questions still stand.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It looks like what sawflies do to roses. Maybe it's something similar.
    It is an acuba
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I don't think there are any major issues with the branches. They are probably old branches weather-beaten over a long period and sometimes, they can split in extreme cold temperatures. 

    You can prune some of the damaged branches back to rejuvenate it.
    They prefer shadier areas with good well drained soil. They will struggle on heavy soils.
Sign In or Register to comment.