Sky Pencil Holly dying

[curly_kate]

I have a row of 4 sky pencil hollies that I planted back in May/June. One is half dead now, and the other is about a quarter dead. I'll get a pic, but really all you'd see is a plant with half of its leaves dead. Anyone know of common problems with them? Naturally, I have no idea where my receipt went, so I doubt Lowe's will let me exchange them.

 

[Smart Red]

I know that moving them is a sure way to kill them off -- personal experience. Otherwise, I haven't had a problem with the two I had. One did grow bigger and healthier looking that the other, but I wouldn't know why.

Keeping them moist, but not overly wet and having a good, thick mulch is the best that I can suggest. Mine were growing in with the acid lovers, but I don't think they NEED an acidic soil. Oops! They do prefer a lower PH. Could that be the problem?

 

[curly_kate]

It seems like soil pH is probably not it because I have 4 in a line & only 2 look bad....

 

[thistlebloom]

This isn't limited to hollies Kate, but I was wondering about how the root balls looked when you pulled them out of the containers?
Some nurseries use a clay base soil in containers, possibly because the young plants were field grown then transplanted to containers. I've seen some rhodies that came from a large wholesale nursery that supplies retail nurseries, potted up in a clay, and then have problems down the road because the clay dried out and wouldn't allow water to the root ball, or became too saturated and suffocated the roots.

Another possibility is the planting depth, too deep or too high can cause dieback.

Is the dead area on one side of the plant, or spread throughout the shrub?

I don't know of any specific problems common to hollies. I think they are generally pretty trouble free.

I can empathize with you, it's frustrating to watch a plant decline mysteriously. I hope the other two remain healthy.

 

[catjac1975]

We transplanted a holly last summer. It was quite big and had been in place for at least 10 years. It was either cut it down or try to transplant it. It was done with a backhoe and pretty much ripped out of the ground. It held it's leaves for a few months but looked dead and barren in the spring. The stems were still green and soft so that part seemed alive. We left it in place figuring we would cut it down in the fall. A few weeks ago new leaves starting appearing. It is not lush but it is alive. Whether it will make it through the winter is anybody's guess. Ii am giving it more time. Perhaps they do not like transplanting. Holly is an understory plant. Did you put them in full sun? Maybe yours will come back too.

 

[Nyboy]

Lowes now has a card that keeps track of all your purchases from them its called mylowes. they scan card at checkout so you dont need to save receipts. Its free I have one