QUESTION: Since March this year, entire branches on my holly trees have turned brown and died. I have removed the dead branches and now have unsightly large bare gaps in the foliage. There are brown spots on the tops of the leaves, and the leaves were being chewed by something. The trees are about 20 feet tall and approximately 10 years old. I sprayed with insecticides for scale and caterpillars and now see fewer dead branches. There are still chewed leaves with brown spots. Will the branches regenerate and fill in the bare spots or should I start thinking about replacing these trees?ANSWER: Mature plants such as your hollies possess a remarkable capacity for renewal. It is amazing how a plant that became misshapen due to breakage or loss of limbs due to disease can come back, looking better than ever. I would not even think about replacing 10-year-old holly trees of this size without giving them a chance to replenish their canopy.Good pruning is your answer. This is an opportunity to reduce the size, get rid of foliage infested with the scale insect you describe and thicken up the plants with new growth. Your plants have the mature root structure to support a hearty regeneration.Given the height of your trees, I think you will have to hire a certified arborist with the required equipment to take on this pruning job. Considering the value of those trees, this is an important and necessary investment, one that will prove worthwhile in the long run. An arborist will also be able to determine exactly the insect problem that caused the damage and deal with it more effectively than you can.

QUESTION: With the price of fuel rising and no relief in sight, we may be entering an era where people have to decide between cutting the lawn or driving to the grocery store. Perhaps it is time to offer advice and plans on easy conversions homeowners can make to reduce lawn and increase more natural areas on their property. Of course, one can tout the energy savings provided by shade trees and conifers, plus the reduced need for watering of lawn areas. Shouldn't more people be adopting the idea of natural areas?ANSWER: Natural areas gain great interest during years of drought which lead to water restrictions on landscapes. At other times, people choose them for various good reasons: slopes too steep to mow, the dry shade under trees where growing anything is a challenge, an interest in wildflowers and good-looking ground covers.I like natural areas, but they are not without work. Mulch requires replenishment, and weeds will erupt and demand attention. However, this is a good time of year to ponder the development of such an area.Look over your landscape. Are there areas under trees that could tie together in a graceful shape with a uniform mulch? Such linkage looks much better than a circle of mulch under a single tree. Where is the grass struggling? More than likely, this is in the shade of mature trees where the soil stays dry. Mulch with wildflowers could be very pretty.Do you have spots or strips with just bits and pieces of grass? Even if it grows well, it may not be effective or worth the work to keep it looking good. Mulch may suffice, but ground covers of the right size might be even better. As you contemplate this project, use your hose to define areas. Look at them from the street and the house. Don't make a decision about this quickly. Once you have settled on the size and shape, you can kill the grass that's left, then add the mulch or ground cover plants.Send your gardening questions to Nancy Brachey, The Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, N.C. 28230.By KRT News Service