Question
I planted two Shamrock Inkberrys last spring. I now noticed that the green leaves have black spots and are turning yellow. Can you please tell me what's wrong? Thank you.

Answer
Hello Rose

This sound like black spot disease, which can be either bacterial or fungal.

In its fungal form minute raised fungal fruiting bodies can be seen on affected leaves and the spores are spread from leaf to leaf and plant to plant by the wind, or water splash when it is raining.

When the problem is caused by bacteria these fruiting bodies will not be present.

On balance, I think the problem is most likely fungal leaf spot.

Leaf spotting in itself is not very damaging to the plant, it just doesn't look very attractive!.  

To control it pick off affected leafs and either bag and bin, or burn, them.  It is particularly important to gather up fallen leafs that have been blown off by the wind, or just dropped off, in the fall so that there is no infection 'carry over' to the next year.  Untreated the spores will lie dormant on, and in, the ground during the winter, and reinfect the plants in the spring.

There are fungicides available to control leaf spot on a variety of plants, but check the package labels to find one that will be effective on Ilex.  Don't forget the treat the area around the plants, not just the plants themselves.

Treat both plants in early spring - which might ward off an infection, and/or at the first sign  of those black marks on the leafs at any time during the growing season.

I hope this helps to solve the problem.

Gill