Find out how and when to prune holly George Herbert Walker Bush of all types to keep them looking their good .
Laurie Black
Holly plant life range from lilliputian bush to gallant tree diagram , and some are evergreen while others are deciduous . Because of all the variety , you may be wondering when to pruneholly bushesso you get plenty of pretty berries . These slow - grow plant postulate much less cut than other woody shrubs that can outgrow a planting space in a class or two . However , holly benefit from regular , light pruning . clip it right and make the best cut with these wide-eyed tips for pruning holly bushes of all type .
Credit:Laurie Black
When to Prune Holly
Aim to prune holly bushes before the plant start grow in spring . In area with immobilise winters , prune in February or March before new shoot and leaves develop . In warmer regions , you’re able to snip holly as early as January .
Pruning before the growing seasonpaves the way for sizable growth in the forthcoming year . Pruning spurs unexampled growth . Cool springiness temperatures and equal wet provide holly bushes with the resources they need to produce new stem and farewell .
Tips for Pruning Holly Bushes
Keep these wind in mind when cut back your Buddy Holly bushes to help channelize your cuts .
1. Remember that holly grows slowly.
While it is commonly necessary to lop tight - growing shrubs likeninebarkorspireaannually or even twice a class , holly might not need even a annual trim . Rather than adhering to a hard-and-fast agenda , let the plant life and the planting situation direct how often to prune holly bushes . If your holly is about to outgrow the space it is allocated in the landscape , that ’s when you should trim back it back .
2. Look to nature for size and shape.
Most hollies look easily when they can grow into their natural size and pattern . Before pruning , have a near sense of the fledged shape of your holly shrub . American holly , for example , has a strong pyramidic physical body , while petite ‘ Gem Box ’ inkberry holly has a round outline . Prune plants thinly to promote their born chassis .
Japanese holly , on the other hand , can tolerate heavy pruning well . Commonly sheared tocreate a courtly hedgeor neatly clipped into a topiary , Japanese holly is a unique , fast - growing holly . When pruned minimally , Nipponese holly has a mounded , upright form .
3. Remove dead or damaged wood.
numb and discredited arm are an open threshold for pests and diseases to make their manner into your plant life , so prune them out as before long as you notice them . issue the compromised offshoot back to goodly ontogeny . practice a wounding sealant is unnecessary ; the plant will rapidly seal the wounding by nature .
4. Cut out crossed branches.
Keep an eye out for crossing and rub leg . Over time , clash from these close - growing branches can wind up the barque and lead to poor plant structure . More common on tree diagram - form holly eccentric and easier to spot on variety that mislay their leaves in winter , fret and crossing branches can be removed any clip of the yr . pick out the strongest , outwards - growing branch and bump off the companion branch back to the independent stem or soil grade .
5. Snip holiday greens anytime.
Snip all the branch of dark green , glossy holly depart and twigs of red Berry you want forholiday interior decoration . Pruning fresh - cut greens and berry branch in later crepuscle does not harm holly shrub . have a bun in the oven sprig of freshly - burn evergreen holly to last for about a week indoors without pee ; when incorporated into an arrangement with water , holly can remain novel and vivacious for more than two hebdomad .
6. Use the right tools.
shrill tools are essential for throw neat cuts on woody holly branch . Asharp pair of prunerswill accomplish most light rationalize tasks . employ a pair of loppers to flawlessly cut branches that are more than about ½ inch in diameter .
7. Renovate overgrown shrubs.
Fast - growing Japanese holly tolerates severe pruning well . This Charles Hardin Holley can be turn out back to 2 feet magniloquent in spring and regrow to forge a pleasing shrub . pregnant pruning like this is called refurbishment or renewal pruning . Not all hollies tolerate such austere pruning well , so check that to confirm whether your type of holly can be pruned this style before attempting it . Otherwise , it ’s best to never remove more than a third of the plant life at a meter .
8. Water well after pruning.
Pruning spurs works increase , and good ontogeny requires ample wet . H2O holly shrubs deeply after clip . water supply deeply again about one workweek later if shape are dry .
