For many gardeners, their plants are like children that they rear,
nurture and care for with lots of TLC. When a plant shows signs of
illness or trauma, the proud “parent” wants to put things right. But
these “kids” can’t tell you where they hurt!

That was the problem faced by two readers who wrote to me when they
noticed problems with their holly bushes.

QUESTION: “I was wondering if you know why my mature holly bushes
have dark black fungus that looks like mud on the leaves? I have
landscaping with over 50 hollies and only the four that are against
the house facing west have problems with the leaves.

”Also, why do I have moths in the lawn? I noticed them today while
cutting the grass. Is there any way to get rid of them? I have
fertilized the lawn twice this season already, the last having insect
control in it.” – Laren Imperatore

ANSWER: I believe the black spots could be a result of aphids. Once
you control the aphids the black should eventually wash off. Using a
systemic insecticide for aphids, spray both tops and bottoms of the
leaves as directed on the label. Concerning your lawn moth problem,
here is a link to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on lawn
insects. It is a big document but on page 9 you will find thee
information you need on sod webworms.
a href="http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/
PB1158.pdf" target="_blank"http://www.utextension.utk.edu/
publications/pbfiles/PB1158.pdf/a

QUESTION: “Last year, in the spring, I planted a holly bush in my
front yard which gets
lots of sun. By about September/October last year, the leaves had
started to turn brown and fell off. I just bought another one and
have planted it in the same place. Do you have any advice on how I
can make sure this one survives?” -- K. Roy

ANSWER: Holly bushes like full sun with well drained, highly organic
acid soil. Aside of that, they generally will grow fine.

When you went to purchase your new holly, it would have been a good
idea for you to have taken pictures of the one that died to let the
sales person work with you to find out why it died. This would have
been beneficial in knowing before planting another in
the same place so you could be careful to check for those signs.

Continued plant care is important. You should follow the same path
that the garden center was using in caring for the new holly. When you
purchased the plant, they should have given you care information to
continue with after planting. If you didn't receive any info, you
should contact them on this matter.


QUESTION: “I have a hedge of 12 emerald greens on the south side of
our house. They have been in the ground for about six years and have
grown nicely. Our winter was colder than normal by a few degrees with
a bit of snow several times and a late spring. The shrubs have been
beautiful and green all winter but now all are showing some brown on
one side. There is new growth on top.

“Is this a disease or anything to remedy or be concerned about? We
live on Camano Island, about 90 miles north of Seattle but with better
weather than Seattle due to the shelter of the Olympics to the west.
We are on the northern end of a "convergence" zone which brings
weather in around to mountains to Everett, WA.”

ANSWER: From what you tell me, it sounds like freeze damage. It
doesn’t always show up in late winter. Sometimes it takes warmer
temperatures for the plant to realize it is wounded. If the browning
continues to envelope the plants, you may need to look further, for
other suspects such as spider mites or too much dampness in the soil.
With the plants producing new growth, it does sound like they are
trying to work their problem out.
Good luck with them.

The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs
and landscaping to a
"steve@landstew ard.org/a and for
resources and additional information, or to subscribe to Steve’s free
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target="_blank"www.landsteward.org/a