More pictures

Are you giving them some supplemental water? Fertilizer?

Illstep I’m not sure how long they are in direct sun, the house kind of shades them a little being a foundation plant. I planted them maybe 2 years ago. There is new growth on them but it’s very small amount and just not as dense as it’s supposed to be.

and Yardvaark, I only watered them the first year just until they were established. That’s about it. And I also recently used that holly tone stuff.

Where are you? The nearest big city will be sufficient.

I’m in zone 6a I believe.

You don't say how long they've been in the ground, but if they are within the first couple of years, they could still use supplemental water if there are dry periods. I presume Holly Tone is fertilize...? You'd need to check.

z6 is about half the us... and very divergent.. big city name .. plz

When new growth is being matured hollies shed mature leaves excessively when nitrogen deficient. Because they are shifting nutrients to the young leaves, sacrificing the old ones in order to keep the new ones adequately supplied. Review your fertilization program to see if maybe you need to apply additional nitrogen. If you are in the US your nearest USDA Cooperative Extension Service branch office should be able to advise you on this issue. They will be likely to need to see a sample of an affected shoot.

Ken I live in york, pa and I guess Harrisburg would be the closest big city.

Here’s some pictures. Could it be mites or something?

If they went through a dry period only one time after the first year when you were giving them supplemental water, they could lose a lot of leaves, which probably won't come back. You'd have to wait until enough growth occurred to cover the "abused" areas, which will happen in time ... so long as another unattended, extended dry period does not occur.

Should I be concerned about these webs in them?

Not if it's a spider web. But if it's lots of fine webs throughout the plant, then definitely look for critters and treat with the appropriate insecticide.

It doesn't appear to be spider mites, but the filmy webs of a grass spider. These busy creatures make sheet webs in the lawn and over low shrubs and hide underneath in order to pounce when victims are entangled.

The webs are unsightly, use a stream from the hose to rinse them away. You will likely catch sight of the spiders if you do that bit of housekeeping.

Spider mite webbing is much finer than what you've pictured and there would be the telltale stippling of an infestation.

Doesn't appear to be a Japanese holly. Are these planted in native soil, by the way?

There are various critters that spin webs other than regular spiders, including some worms. Look carefully on the underside of leaves and in nooks and crannies. Get a magnifying glass if you need to. If you don't see critters, it is probably just a regular non-plant-eating spider.

Just a common old garden spider.....nothing to worry about and nothing to do with whatever may be ailing your holly (not a Japanese holly, btw). Garden spiders are good things and should be encouraged.

FWIW, hollies can be cut back hard and they will backbud or produce new growth from bare stems. Your plants look perfectly healthy otherwise and with no sign of insect or disease issues so why they are so leggy and sparse now is most likely due to cultural conditions....lack of water at some point, possible cold damage at some point or issues with the root ball when planted.

It’s blue holly I don’t know if it’s a male or female either blue princess or blue prince

so my blue hollys look the same. yellow and very sparse, not bushy! what did you end up doing?

Do you use Hollytone? I use that some seasons, if there are any yellowing or dropping leaves. I also have different results with hollies depending on the location. Some that are in more shade have elongated branching and are less vigorout. I have one in the foundation that faces East, so it gets a lot of morning sun and that one grows like crazy.