Hollies do drop their oldest leaves in Spring just prior to leafing out. So some leaf drop is normal. But typically it's only about 1/3 or 1/4 of the leaves.

They tend to drop more than usual if stressed in any way.

So, since yours were recently planted, it is likely that a larger than normal leaf drop is occurring due to transplant shock.

But as long as the buds are green, they should leaf out normally. They may not fill out really well until the next year or two though, after they get more established.

Just keep them watered - especially in the hot summer time!

Hi Dave - thank you so much. You have made me feel a lot better about my investment into these beautiful trees. They were put in as a natural screen. They really did attract a lot of cardinals this winter. I have a call into our county extension office but the tree expert only works 3 days a week and of course I called when she wasn't there.

I have been at my house for 5 plus years and my dwarf holly never seems to drop leaves. I never see any laying under it. But, i do understand tht they drop leaves. If you wanted to rush new leaf production you could give them a fertilizer now. I bet those were some expensive hollies being 14ft tall!

good luck :)

They weren't cheap that is for sure - but we wanted/needed immediate shielding from between our backyard and our new neighbors. They cannot see into our pool area, but they built up much higher than others and we can see them walking around and even in their in-ground pool. A barrier was a must to protect our property value. We tried to get the new neighbors to work with us and build a barrier pleasing to both sides, but they weren't interested.