The easy-care holly is very resistant and is only very rarely attacked by diseases or pests. Therefore, the Ilex does not require any special protection or preventive measures. A light location with slightly moist soil is sufficient for healthy development.
Brown leaves often indicate a lack of water
What diseases is holly susceptible to?
Only rarely does the holly suffer from a fungal attack. Then you should check the ground conditions. Is there any waterlogging? Your Ilex does not tolerate them well, nor does it like calcareous soil.
Pests such as the holly leaf leaf miner, shoot rollers or scale insects are also rare. If the infestation is low, it may be sufficient if you spray the affected plant with a sharp jet of water. If the infestation is severe, you can also cut off the affected shoots, but the holly grows slowly. Therefore, you should not start a cut without thinking.
Then why does my holly have discolored leaves?
When your holly leaves turn brown, this is usually not an indication of a disease but a sign of a lack of water. Most often this occurs in winter or early spring. Because the hardy holly is evergreen and needs sufficient water even in winter because it constantly evaporates moisture through its leaves.
Watering is often forgotten in winter and some garden owners think in spring that their plants have frozen. However, this is rarely the case. Like holly, all evergreens should be watered on frost-free winter days, especially when the sun is shining.
The essentials in brief:
- Fungal infestation rare
- occasional infestation by scale insects, shoot rollers or holly leaf miners
- Prevention not necessary
- Treatment only if infested
- discolored leaves indicate a lack of water
- Water holly on frost-free days in winter
tips
Brown or yellow leaves on holly do not usually indicate diseases or pests, but rather a lack of water supply.