Question
Jim, i have three nice holly bush's none of them have berries on them,I'm not sure if their male or female . my problem is on of them has a black discoloration all over the leaves, this one bush is partially under an overhang but does get sun .i first this three years' ago when i trimmed it down about six inch's, can you help?

Answer
Since you said the black was all over the leaves it sounds like sooty mold. Sooty mold grows on a substance called honeydew. honeydew has a high content of sugar which the fungi live on. Honeydew is secreted by insects that suck the plant juices from the twig and leaves. These could be either scale insects or aphids. Aphids are small insects that if touched will move and scale insects look like small turtles attached to the twigs. Both can be controlled with the use of an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. This product is applied to the soil around the bush and watered in. The roots absorb the insecticide and transport it to he twigs and leaves and when the insects suck the plant juices they are killed. Control the insects and the black mold will go away. Check with your local nursery fro this product. Here is a web link to more information on Bayer Advanced.

http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/Tree-Shrub-Insect-Control/concentrate.html