![]() In any event, if the branches turn brown or black, to prevent spread of disease, you'll want to cut them back to a point just beyond the damage. If you see tiny insects crawling around on the paper you'll need to spray the plants with an insecticide that controls spider mites. To test for them, shake the foliage over a white sheet of paper. Though it's rare, sometimes spider mites will visit japanese holly. A slower rate indicates poor draining soil and could be a caution you might need to improve drainage, plant in a raised mound or bed, or look for plants that are more tolerant of wet or boggy conditions. A faster rate may signal potentially dry site conditions. In well-drained soil the water level will go down at a rate of about 1 inch an hour. You can also fill the hole with water and see how long it takes to drain. If the soil is real mucky or the hole fills with water you know you've got a drainage issue. First, I would dig a hole to about 6 or so inches deep beside the root ball to check soil moisture. With just a few spots showing damage it leads me to think that it's either too much water or some other disease, or maybe an insect, that's causing the problem. If the roots were drying up the entire plant would be showing signs of stress: leaves turning a dull shade of green or grey and then falling from the plant. As Darren said, it appears there are only a few spots of browning leaves on your Sky Pencil holly. That being said, the Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata) are susceptible to root rot in soil that stays constantly soggy or wet. I agree with Darren in that it might not be a water issue.I don't know if I am underestimating how much water the plant needs with the amended soil or if its something else going on with it. ![]() I felt the soil today and it's a little moist, definitely not bone dry. I soaked the sky pencils on sunday and we received ran yesterday. I think I may have added more soil to the one that is drying out than I did to the other, which is sitting in more clay soil. I do admit that I did not water either one for a couple of weeks as it said that they did not like their roots being super wet, but the front of the house faces the west and gets the hot afternoon sun. One is doing well with no signs of drying and the others leaves are drying out and then turning brown. I have two sky pencils, one on each side of the path. I live in zone 7 in north east arkansas, soil is heavy clay but I amended it with miracle grow tree and shrub soil to help with drainage.
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