Yucca and Holly Problems in Upstate New York

Your mature yucca suddenly lost all but a couple of leaves, and your 10-year-old hollies remain sparse despite fertilizing. Two different issues, both solvable.

Yucca Leaf Collapse

Sudden total leaf loss in spring suggests root rot from wet winter soil or yucca weevil larvae feeding inside the crown. Yuccas demand sharp drainage. In upstate NY, heavy clay or wet winters can rot roots.

• Check the crown: if mushy or smelly, it's rot. Dig up, cut away rot, dust with sulfur, replant in a raised, gritty mix.
• If firm, look for small holes at base of leaves—weevil damage. Treat with systemic insecticide (imidacloprid) as a drench.
• Only 1-2 green sprouts means the plant is trying to regrow. Keep it dry, don't fertilize yet.

Sparse Hollies

Hollies need full sun to light shade for dense growth. In deep shade they stay thin. Acid fertilizer helps, but Milorganite (organic nitrogen) applied in spring and fall works better. Stop shearing—it removes the new growth that creates density. Instead, thin out a few old stems at the base each year to let light penetrate. Mulch with compost annually.