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Dying holly and boxwood #878663

Asked July 24, 2024, 9:08 PM EDT

Hello, A few weeks ago, I noticed a holly bush in my yard was starting to turn brown. The holly next to it looks fine. I’m planning to remove both Hollie’s this fall to replace with hydrangeas, so I wasn’t too worried about it and figured that it was just due to the hot dry weather. Today I realized it is totally dead and now a tall boxwood next to it is starting to turn brown. I also noticed 2 of my next door neighbors’s boxwoods (not pictured, but they are a different variety, smaller and more typical than my tall one) are also completely brown and dead looking, but they have a couple that look okay. I have 3 winterberry Hollie’s in an adjacent rain garden, which I really like, and some of their leaves are also starting to have brown spots, but it seems like a different browning pattern than what is affecting the other holly and boxwood. 1. Is the holly that is completely brown dead and do you have any theories what happened to it. 2. Do you know what’s happening to the boxwood and do you think it’s the same issue as my neighbor is having? 3. Are the winterberry Hollie’s in the rain garden okay and is there anything I should do to help them?

District of Columbia County District of Columbia

Expert Response

Hi Jessica,

Thanks for reaching out with these questions and sorry to hear about this trouble with your plantings!

Based on the photos and your additional background, it's likely that the issues with your boxwood and holly are related to our recent drought conditions. Your neighbor's dead grass also suggests this immediate area has some water issues. Both boxwood and holly can be susceptible to drought damage, which can cause rapid yellowing/browning of leaves. (Ironically, they can also both suffer from over-watering and poor-draining soil. If you have been overcompensating for the drought by watering too much, that could also explain these symptoms!) Does this seem plausible to you?

Below is some basic information on boxwood and holly care:

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/boxwood/

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/buxus/

https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/3010/3010-1482/3010-1482.pdf


It's entirely possible that these plants are still alive and will recover. If you have the luxury of time, you can just wait and see whether there is new growth or leaves from the stems. You can also test for living wood by gently bending the stems in a few places, starting from the tip and moving towards the trunk. If the wood is brittle or snaps off, it's dead, but if you feel some resistance and flexibility, it's probably still alive.


The leaf browning on your winterberries also looks drought related, but it is hard to say for sure. Given the limited visible damage and our recent rain, this plant should bounce back quickly. I recommend keeping an eye on it and monitoring to see if the problem gets worse despite the recent rain.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions or information to share. Some other experts may review and chime in.

Happy gardening!

Andrew

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 26, 2024, 8:51 AM EDT

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