Why Are My Holly Leaves Turning Yellow?

We recently received several calls from concerned homeowners and landscapers about holly trees.

THE CONCERN

Some of the leaves are turning yellow and falling off the trees. In some cases, it appears that many of the leaves are doing this, which is pretty alarming to homeowners who are worried that their trees may be dying.

WHY DOES THIS OCCUR

Do not let this ruin your day, in most cases this is perfectly normal and common this time of year (April/May). Even though hollies are evergreens, they lose some of their leaves annually. Sometimes, this happens very slowly in the spring and is not noticeable, but when the weather turns warm quickly, the process accelerates, and the leaves will shed rapidly. Most of the yellowing leaves are concentrated on the interior of the holly. If the rest of the tree is in good health and has good color, do not be alarmed.

WHEN TO WORRY

So when should you be concerned? If the entire tree starts to look stressed or coloric (more yellow or green), this means the tree is lacking nutrients and most likely in some form of decline. This can easily be treated, and the holly should recover quickly. The other issue may be a pest, such as scale, damaging the tree. This can also be treated. If you are unsure, it is always better to check with a certified arborist.