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What to do about my sickly holly?

DirtyFingernailsDirtyFingernails Posts: 14
in Problem solving
Hi folks, We planted a Holly - Ilex Blue Maid - last autumn, and it is now looking very sickly indeed - leaves turning dark brown and generally looking awful. It is putting on some new growth so not dead, but certainly unwell We suspect it has been waterlogged as we have had some serious drainage issues in parts of the garden, which have now been resolved as of this week (at a cost of ££££ argh). We planted another identical bush a few feet away in better drained soil which is thriving, so it's not to do with the soil or our care, and it doesn't look like a pest. Should I give it a hard prune to get rid of the brown bits and hope for the best? I've also fed it with blood bone and fishmeal.


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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    @DirtyFingernails I wouldn't have fed it. If it has been in a very wet soil over winter and the soil was then frozen that might be the cause. I would do very little for now if there is no improvement by the end of May perhaps post again . Difficult growing conditions can cause new plants to be stressed then problems occur. It is natural for evergreens to  loose more leaves at this time of year too.  I don't think it is pest either, hopefully it will develop some new leaves soon a start to it's  recovery.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DirtyFingernailsDirtyFingernails Posts: 14
    Thanks for the advice @GardenerSuze - is it still worth cutting the very worst bits off? The good news is that it does seem to be putting on some new growth and the ground is drying out fast now we've fixed the drainage issue, so I will keep watching and try not to worry too much :( 

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @DirtyFingernails No I would leave it be for now. I don't know where you are approx in the UK but could be a frost tonight. It is a young plant and needs time to settle.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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