The easy-care holly is very resistant and is rarely attacked by diseases or pests. Therefore, the Ilex does not require any special protection or preventive measures. A bright location with slightly moist soil is sufficient for he althy development.
What diseases can affect holly?
The holly is rarely affected by disease, although fungal infestation can occasionally occur. Pests such as mealybugs, shoot moths or Ilexminer flies are also rare. Discolored leaves usually indicate a lack of water, not diseases or pests.
What diseases is holly susceptible to?
The holly rarely suffers from fungal infestation. Then you should check the soil conditions. Is there possibly waterlogging? Your Ilex doesn't tolerate it well, nor does it like calcareous soil.
Pests such as the leaf miner fly, shoot moths or mealybugs are also rare. If the infestation is small, it may be enough to spray the affected plant with a sharp jet of water. If the infestation is more severe, you can also cut off the affected shoots, but the holly will only grow slowly. Therefore, you should not make a cut without thinking.
Then why does my holly have discolored leaves?
If your holly has brown leaves, this is usually not an indication of disease but a sign of a lack of water. Most often this occurs in winter or early spring. The hardy holly is evergreen and needs enough water even in winter because it constantly evaporates moisture through its leaves.
Watering in winter is often forgotten and some garden owners think in spring that their plants have frozen. However, this is rarely the case. Like holly, all evergreen plants should be watered in winter on frost-free days, especially when the sun is shining.
The most important things in brief:
- Fungal infestation rare
- occasionally infested by mealybugs, shoot moths or Ilex miner flies
- Prevention not necessary
- Treatment only if infested
- discolored leaves indicate lack of water
- Watering holly in winter on frost-free days
Tip
Brown or yellow leaves of the holly usually do not indicate diseases or pests but rather an insufficient water supply.