QuestionQUESTION: My holly bushes have developed a leaf spot, white in the middle and border by a black ring. Over time the leafs turn brown and drop off. The center of my bushes are almost bare from the leaves falling off. The females were affected first and now the male is showing signs of the same problem. I have sprayed all of the bushes with an Ortho Fungicide, both the top and bottom of the leaves, without any success. Can you help?
ANSWER: Do you see any new growth on the tips of your branches? Are these spots almost perfect circles or is it irregularly covering a portion of the leaves?
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
Blue Princess Holly
QUESTION: I fed them last month and there is new growth on the tips and berries on some of the branches. The spots are almost perfect circles, see the attached image.
AnswerI have seen this on hollies before and as long as these spots don't appear to be moving to the new growth, I don't feel that it is an issue that will threaten the life of your hollies. It's most likely caused by moist conditions of Spring, the fungicide you applied will protect your other leaves from getting these spots. Your leaf drop could be a shed from the winter, every evergreen plant does this shed after the winter months. I do believe your hollies will be fine and this is sort-of a normal response.