Young Holly Is Getting Weighted Down By Berries

Question From: T. Stites - Spring Hill, Florida, United States
Q: Planted a young (6 feet tall) holly this summer. Is producing numerous berries but berries are weighing down the branches and the leaves are falling off. What should I do? We are having plenty of rain and I fertilized recently.

A: Fertilizing in the heat of summer can do great harm to shrubs. Prefessionals advise not fertilizing newly planted shrubs for the first year. Make sure the soil around the root ball is kept moist and let nature take it course. That's all you can do at this point. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy