The Versatility of Hollies

Hollies have gained their popularity through being so very versatile. They have unique traits such as textural, decorative foliage, ornamental berries, and varied growth habit. Hollies also acclimate easily to many different environments. But just like good, rich soil, adequate soil nutrients, water, and sun, proper pruning is important to keep hollies healthy and looking beautiful.

Whenever you prune your plants, they typically send out new growth, so when you prune hollies is an important factor to consider. Susceptible to sudden drops in temperature and frost, evergreen hollies are best pruned in early summer. This will prevent the new growth being damaged by cool temperatures. After pruning, don’t be surprised if female hollies have fewer berries. The pruning process removes most of the summer flowers that develop into winter fruit. Pruning can give hollies either a formal shape or, with thinning, an informal look. Either look you create, pruning will keep your hollies looking good year-round.

There are deciduous and evergreen species of hollies. Some have serrated leaves and some have drop-shaped foliage, Female hollies provide festive fruit and male hollies are less showy.

Deciduous hollies such as Winterberry and Possumhaw need a radical pruning technique of cutting each year. Japanese holly, Inkberry and Yaupon hollies are rounded hollies which need to be thinned only in the first few years of growth. Formal shaping can continue throughout the life of the plant. Indeterminate hollies such as Blue holly, English holly, and Chinese holly need thinning and formal shaping throughout its life. Pyramidal hollies require thinning when they are young, but formal shaping is usually not necessary. Pyramidal hollies are the American holly, English holly, and ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly.

The three ways to prune are thinning, shaping, and radical cutting. Thinning consists of reducing interior by removing crossing or intersecting branches to a branch union. This prevents overcrowding in the framework of the holly and a better organization of branches. Cut parallel to the main branch to help hide the unsightly stub and make it appear natural. Shaping gives hollies a strong outline. Use a series of deliberate cuts that remove the end of a branch to a bud or leaf node. This process shortens the branch to create the desired shape but doesn’t remove it. The angle of these cuts should slope upward in order to conceal the stub. Radical pruning suits the loose form of deciduous hollies. Since they are vigorous growers, deciduous hollies should be thinned back every year in late winter to improve their shape and encourage new growth. Stems that are thicker than a thumb should be cut to the ground. Never remove more than one-third of the shrub. This type of pruning may seem drastic, but it is the best way to keep these hollies healthy.

General maintenance should always be done. Remove unsightly damaged branches. Any diseased branches must be cut and taken away from the property to prevent further spread or recurrence.

When pruning any woody plant, use tools with sharp blades. Bypass-blade hand pruners and loppers are ideal. Use a saw specifically sold for pruning trees and shrubs for the larger, thicker branches.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.