Pruning Holly Bush

Hi there,

I am new to this (The site & Gardening!) We have an old garden which we have big plans for this year! One of the things we have inherited is a holly bush which has been kept to a round shape however has been allowed to go a little out of control and is now probably two foot wider than we want it to be. If I cut it back to the required size it will mean most of it's leaves going :confused: I have heard they are pretty tough however just wanted to check that it would grow new leaves and how long that would take. It is a healthy female bush (one or two berries this year) with variegated leaves. Also I am planning on doing it next weekend. Is now the right time of year? I would really appreciate some tips from you experts out there!

 

sometimes its best to prune when you have the time and inclination!

I have hacked my varigated holly as it was growing over the foot path. It strangely had branches with all yellow leaves on rather than WO's all green. I hacked these back and now it looks fine.

I have also got some standard trained hollies in ball shapes, I keep on top of the pruning with these to keep a good shape.

 

Thanks guys. As it will now be covered in snow, I think I'll leave it a week or two!

 

Holly is fairly indestructable once it's established although it doesn't like root disturbance. In days of yore it was copiced for winter fodder and the wood had many uses.

Trees For Life

[ 09. February 2007, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Can't get through on your link, Froggy - I expect this is the site, given its location! :D

http://www.googlesyndicatedsearch.com/u/treesforlife?q=holly&sa=Go

I've gone to a search on "holly"

 

Holly is apparently a major cause of damage/cracks to churches and church buildings. Popular in churchyards it costs parishes lots of money to rectify and remove. I was called in to prune/remove a modest holly tree.

Is it a hard wood ? cause blow me it was solid. I tried the drill, salt, paint and bag techinique, but 2 months later it reappeared gratefull for a good prune :rolleyes:

Only way established holly trees/bushes come out is with a professionally bore. :( and no I didn't talk to it ! :D

 

:D :D

 

you think Holly is bad, I think ivey even worse, I have seen it creeping up the north side of our church and it will be a disaster if not removed.

Our gardening goodhearted guru recently died and *** will these old buildings and dry stone walls suffer!

 

Thanks Dendy, dunno what happened there but I've sorted my link out