Deperate Help with Hollies
 

I have two hollies, not sure the type but they are triangluar with red
berries in winter. Anyway they were planted in a low spot and suffered.
Over winter they lost every leaf. So I brought in top soil and lift
them by 4" then gave them about 1 1/2 hollytone, each. This was in
March. They were doing better, infact I had blossoms last weekend. I
noticed that they were getting webs and these flying ant-like bugs so I
sprayed them with Orthoean about two weeks ago. This last weekend I
noticed the first blooms and thought things would be fine.

Now the buds and branches on one holly is turning black. This is the
same Holly that blossomed first. Is there anything I can do now?

"Higglity" wrote in
oups.com:

I have two hollies, not sure the type but they are triangluar with red
berries in winter. Anyway they were planted in a low spot and suffered.
Over winter they lost every leaf. So I brought in top soil and lift
them by 4" then gave them about 1 1/2 hollytone, each. This was in
March. They were doing better, infact I had blossoms last weekend. I
noticed that they were getting webs and these flying ant-like bugs so I
sprayed them with Orthoean about two weeks ago. This last weekend I
noticed the first blooms and thought things would be fine.

Now the buds and branches on one holly is turning black. This is the
same Holly that blossomed first. Is there anything I can do now?



Most likely your Holly still had scale insect infestation. The sooty mold
is a result of the scale insects exuding 'honeydew'.

If it were my shrub, I would first blast it as vigorously as possible with
a jet of water, let the leaves and stems dry down somewhat, then use
Sunspray Horticultural Oil. One application won't suffice, you have to
reapply several times.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

David,

I brought a sample to my local nursery. She said that I had scab, and
some type of fungi. She claimed that the weather turned to hot and
humid so quickly that it stressed the plants. I guess this makes sense,
what do you think?

Anyway, this is what I did:

1. cut out all the dead/black wood. Including any spotted/dead leaves.
2. Sprayed it heavily with copper-based fungicide oil.
3. Heavily sprayed the sorrounding ground with oil, too.
4. Gave the mostly likely to survive, of the stressed two, 2 gallons
of root stimulator.

I had to cut-back the weakest holly so deep that I am thinking of
replacing it with a new one. But it's wood is still green just no stems
or leaves. This far into the season, is it possible for it to gain buds
and new leaves before winter? I live in Maryland, Frederick Cty.

Do you think I should still go ahead with the heavy water spraying?