Brown Leaves on Holly: Diagnosing and Treating Winter Injury

Brown foliage on hollies in spring often signals winter injury that remained dormant during cold months. As temperatures rise, damaged water-conducting tissues fail to supply moisture to leaves, causing them to brown. Before taking action, wait for the spring flush of growth—buds may be undamaged and produce new shoots. If brown areas persist after this flush, prune them out in early summer. To prevent future damage, ensure deep soil watering before winter and consider shading plants from drying winter sun.