what does it matter... there isnt anything you can do about it ...

in spring.. any improperly hardened off parts.. will have blackened... and you can prune it out ...

this is one reason i NEVER fert trees.. shrubs.. and conifers ... they are not children.. they dont need to be fed ... ever .. IMHO ...

if something is lacking in the soil.. based on a high level soil test.. that has nothing to do with 'feeding babies' ...

was yours a recent transplant.. if so.. and you didnt bare root the plant.. you also have incorporated fert .. so you may have doubled up on such.. by adding more ....

ken

ps: i am going to bet.. its not going to be a huge problem in your zone ... compared to froze solid MI in winter ...

In Arkansas, stop fertilizing around July. This will eliminate a late surge of growth brought on by fertilizer application late in the season. Sometimes, here in Arkansas, when things are really happy they grow late in the season without fertilizer.

As Ken says, nothing to do about it but wait and see! Hollies are generally shrubby anyways so a little dieback over winter isn't a big deal IMO

Depends on the variety to some extent.

But generally new growth now may not harden in time. It's not the end of the world. I have one or two varieties that do that each year. The new growth is only about 6 inch long. It will fry, but new growth in spring more than makes up for it.

Sometimes early fall rains after summer drought can trigger growth, and not just late fertilizer.

What variety? How extensive is the new growth?