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

Holly tree with blackspot

ObsessedPlantswomanObsessedPlantswoman Posts: 69
in Plants
It’s just getting worse, this is the fourth year. The tree drops it’s leaves pretty much completely by spring and then has to grow them again. I scoop up bags and bags of dead leaves, and so can’t grow anything underneath as they get smothered  in Non composting brown leaves!

i don’t want  to chop this 50 year old tree down as it’s amazing for the birds, but is it really just slowly dieing? Your thought much appreciated.

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    @ObsessedPlantswoman It is common for evergreens to loose their leaves in April/ May.

    However, I had a smaller holly years ago that had no leaves at all but it was still alive. As you say it did grow some new ones but looked unhappy. In the end I gave up and planted something else.
    I don't know if pruning would be helpful, someone else may know.  Leaf blight can also cause them to fall.
    You have had the problem in previous years and it is getting worse has it been standing in very wet soil that became frozen. A stressed shrub will loose leaves too.
    Sorry I can't be of more help.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    I am sorry that your tree isn't well. I fear it might be holly leaf blight. Other more experienced people here will know better. Meanwhile Here's a shot from my book 


    Luxembourg
  • ObsessedPlantswomanObsessedPlantswoman Posts: 69
    Thank you @coccinella that looks more like it. Not sure there’s anything I can realistically do ☹️
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    You can compost holly leaves, the hotter the better, they just take longer.  Have a holly-dedicated heap and use it awy from any other hollies.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Sign In or Register to comment.