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Variegated Holly Disease (Help please!)

Padraigh GriffinPadraigh Griffin Posts: 48
in Problem solving

Hi,

I'm desperate for help. I am a newcomer to gardening and have encountered a few problems so far, but none like this.

Our lovely mature variegated Holly (about 25 ft) is shedding leaves in one section.

The leaves are blackening at the tip and are falling off promptly afterwards. It is spreading rapidly. I have been collecting the fallen leaves and tried to cut back the affected branches, but i can't control it.

We are after the wettest December on record so I fear it my be related?

Can someone please give me advice as I fear losing this amazing and essential tree! I'd really appreciate the help!

Thanks in advance,

Padraigh 

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Posts

  • Padraigh GriffinPadraigh Griffin Posts: 48

    Thanks Pansyface. Appreciate the response. I had been on that page and it does look like leaf blight. I am hoping that some others might have a few tips/experience for dealing with it as the RHS suggested method isn't controlling it.

  • Padraigh GriffinPadraigh Griffin Posts: 48

    Thanks Tettey, but that would be a very extreme last resort as it fulfills an essential role as cover from a busy street. It is a beautiful specimen (well was). I just would like to stop the spread of the disease.

    I really really don't want to lose this tree.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I agree with Tetley. How long are you willing to look at that in your garden. It will annoy/upset you all the time. 

    Look for something that doesn't get phytophthora. RHS probably has a list of resistant plants.

    I have it in an aucuba, I haven't got round to cutting it down yet. Sometimes it throws up some nice healthy shoots and gets a reprieve, but it doesn't last.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Padraigh GriffinPadraigh Griffin Posts: 48

    Thanks Nutcutlet, but it really is irreplaceable in it's current position. It is not an option and I just would like advice from anyone who has taken control of this problem and resolved it. I don't want to lose the tree If i can at all. That is 100%. 

  • Padraigh GriffinPadraigh Griffin Posts: 48

    Thanks for the responses, but I have been reading today quite a lot and it suggests elsewhere that recovery is possible. For instance here.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/3301074/Thorny-problems-holly-blight.html

    I guess I am looking for some information from someone who has brought it back under control. Not just 'cut it down'. 

    I am prepared for the loss of the tree, but it is hard to put into perspective in words how difficult it is to replace. 

     

  • Padraigh GriffinPadraigh Griffin Posts: 48

    Thanks pansyface. I will need luck it appears. image

    If anyone has overcome this problem, please forward some information. 

     

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,352

    I had this problem on a young holly bush ('J C Van Tol'). Tried to save it over a couple of seasons - careful pruning, sprayed with fungicide but last spring it was essentially a multi stemmed twig.

    Dug it out and replaced with euonymous Duc D'Anjou - looks much better than a sickly plant.

    Would still like a holly for some berries though - will try a better spot in the garden

    Hope somebody can suggest a solution but I think you might need to accept the bad news on this image

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Padraigh GriffinPadraigh Griffin Posts: 48

    Thanks Topbird for the information. 

    Yes. Despite my initial optimism I'm beginning to lose hope. I had hoped because of the sheer size and health of the tree prior to infection that it might help it overcome the blight.

    It (blight) has now presented itself on a neighbours Holly and also on two Hollies located in a green area about 300 metres from the house. Seems like it is rampant in my area unfortunately.

     

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