Question
My holly bush has yellow leaves with dark spots on them.  What is it and how do I treat it?  When should the bush be trimmed and how much?

Answer
Kim:
There are actually several possibilities for the cause of these spots, not all are considered bona fide infectious diseases. Sometimes nutrient imbalances can cause some spots. Could you send me a closeup photo of a few leaves with these spots that you are concerned with? Try to get as close as you can with your camera. Be sure that you review your image on your computer first to be sure it is in focus before sending. I'll be glad to take a look.
On the pruning question, generally we prune our woody shrubs just after they bloom, so as not to loose the buds for next season. Many holly shrubs don't have a showy flower, so it doesn't really matter, assuming it is well established in the landscape. General rule of thumb; don't take off more than 1/3 the length of the branches.  I do not do this when I prune and I have almost lost a couple of shrubs in the past because I tend to cut too much off. Maybe that is why my next door neighbors call me "The Butcher".

Have a good day and please send a photo if convenient.

Steve