
Small, yellow spots form on leaves and turn reddish brown with a small, yellow halo later in the summer. Once thought to be caused by the sharp points of leaves puncturing each other, spine spot is now known to be caused by the ovipositing of certain insects. Pinhead-sized or larger spots frequently surrounded by a purple halo appear on leaves in late winter and early spring. Protect surrounding plants with a fungicide. Do not replace it with a woody ornamental unless the planting site is first fumigated and aerated thoroughly. Branches and eventually the entire plant dies. If the shrub is replaced, first fumigate and thoroughly aerate the soil. Care for plants well so that they are not under stress from other factors. The root system is small and has dead areas, as well as galls in some cases.Ĭriconemella, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, or TylenchorhynchusĪn analysis of soil and roots must be done to confirm that nematodes are actually causing the symptoms. Yellowing, stunting, and twig dieback occur.

Young leaves formed during cool, damp weather are damaged easily if exposed to hot, dry, windy weather. Tiny, black fungal fruiting structures pepper the spot surface as a result of attack by a secondary fungus. Established plants need watering only during dry spells.Circular to irregular, tan spots appear in early spring or summer. Spread the fertilizer over the root zone and water it in. If you choose to prune them, do so in winter while the plants are dormant.įertilize Sky Pencil hollies in spring with one pound of 10-6-4 or special broadleaf evergreen fertilizer per inch (2.5 cm.) of trunk diameter. They don’t need pruning unless you want to maintain them at a shorter height or narrower width. Once established, Sky Pencil hollies need very little care. Your new holly won’t need fertilizer until the first spring after planting. Apply 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm.) of organic mulch over the root zone to help keep the soil moist and water often until the plant is established and growing. Water deeply after planting and add more fill dirt if the soil settles. As you backfill the hole, press down with your foot from time to time to remove air pockets. Mix some compost with the fill dirt if your soil is heavy clay or sand. It grows well in any well-drained soil.ĭig the planting hole as deep as the root ball and two to three times wider. In zone 6 it needs protection from strong winds. In zones 8 and 9, provide protection from harsh afternoon sun. Sky Pencil hollies are rated for USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. They look well-groomed without much pruning, and you can use them in formal gardens alongside neatly sheared plants. They come in handy in places where you don’t have room for the width of bushier plants. In the ground, you can use Sky Pencil holly shrubs as a hedge plant.

You don’t have to worry about coming in contact with the plant because the leaves aren’t prickly as with other types of holly shrubs. This allows you to use them as architectural plants to frame a door or entryway or on decks and patios. Sky Pencil holly shrubs grow well in containers. They are grown primarily for their interesting shape. They produce small, greenish flowers and female plants produce tiny, black berries, but neither is particularly ornamental.


With pruning, you can maintain them at a height of 6 feet (2 m.) and a width of just 12 inches (31 cm.). Sky Pencil hollies are narrow, columnar shrubs that grow up to 8 feet (2 m.) tall and 2 feet (61 cm.) wide.
Sky pencil holly diseases how to#
Read on to find out how to plant a Sky Pencil holly and how easy it is to care for this interesting plant. It is a cultivar (cultivated variety) of Japanese holly and has evergreen foliage that resembles boxwoods more than hollies. If left to grow naturally, it grows no more than 2 feet (61 cm.) wide, and you can prune it to just a foot (31 cm.) in width. The first thing you’ll notice is its narrow, columnar shape. Unique and with a style all its own, Sky Pencil holly ( Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’) is a versatile plant with dozens of uses in the landscape.
