"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
news
"Toller" wrote in message
...
I have three holly bushes that were there when I bought the house 13 years
ago. Now that I think about it, they haven't grown much in all that time;
hmm.

Last year they started looking sickly. I cut off all the dead stuff and
hoped for the best. Two seem to be recovering, but one died. When I
pulled it out today it had no roots; it pulled out with no resistance!
The bush is about 2' high, but the roots are a ball about the size of a
softball. That can't be right.

So, any idea what is afflicting my hollys? I have a few azaleas and
rhododendrons in the area, and they are not exactly prospering. Maybe
the soil is wrong? It is a moderately sunny area.
What to do?



A google search with the words "rotted root system holly" turned up lots
of links. This one was interesting:
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC2055.htm
Sounds like the Phytophthora thing. Well, at least I know thanks.

Do you think I could get my wife to back off on the mulching?!