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To plant holly, dig a hole two to three times the width of the plant’s root ball. Place the plant in the hole with the top of the root ball level with or slightly higher than the surrounding soil. Allow at least 5 feet between smaller varieties and up to 25 feet for large, tree-type varieties.
Where is the best place to plant a holly bush?
The best location for planting holly bushes is in well-drained but not dry, slightly acidic soil in full sun. That being said, most hollies are very tolerant of less than ideal locations and will grow well in part shade or dry or swampy soil.
When should holly bushes be planted?
Late fall, early winter, or early spring are generally the best times to plant, depending on your climate and the holly variety you’ll be planting.
How fast does holly bushes grow?
American holly is normally planted from potted nursery specimens in the spring or early fall. It has a medium growth rate, adding 12 to 24 inches per year until reaching its mature size of 30 feet or more.
How far apart do you plant male and female holly bushes?
You’ll want to plant 1 male for every 5 to 10 females. Plant the male holly within 50 feet of the female holly. So whether you’re decorating for the holiday or adding winter interest to your garden, holly, with its happy red berries, add ornamentation to any area of your home.
How do I look after a holly bush?
Once planted and properly established, hollies need very little care and attention. They may need regular watering during prolonged dry periods in summer, especially when young and establishing in the soil. Feed with a general granular plant food in spring and cover the soil with a thick mulch.
Do you need 2 holly bushes to get berries?
Hollies are dioecious, meaning that they need male and female plants in order to produce seeds, which are what berries are. So only female holly bushes will have the red berries. This means that if some of your holly bushes do not have berries, they may be male and simply cannot produce berries.
What conditions do holly like?
Hollies are easy to grow – they will grow in sun or partial shade, and prefer moist but well drained soil. The variegated varieties keep their colours better in full sun. Hollies can be grown as specimen plants in a lawn, or in a mixed or shrub border, and some make excellent hedges – great for garden security.
What can you plant in front of a holly bush?
A few common holly companions for planting next to the shrubs include boxwood, viburnum, clematis, hydrangea, and rhododendrons.
How do you tell a male holly from a female holly?
The best way to determine the sex of holly plants is by examining the flowers, which are located between the leaf and branch joint. Although the small clusters of creamy white flowers are similar in appearance, males have more prominent stamens than females.
What type of holly bush do I have?
The best way to identify holly trees and bushes is by looking at the leaves and berries. Individual species of hollies have distinctive glossy leaves with wavy margins and jaggy spines, small blunt points, or smooth edges.
How tall does holly get?
The American holly grows to a height of 40–50′ and a spread of 18–40′ at maturity.
Does holly stay green all year?
Teaches Gardening. Holly bushes are eye-catching for the bright red or dark red berries they produce, as well as their spiny evergreen leaves, which stay green year-round.
How far apart should I plant my holly bushes?
Place the plant in the hole with the top of the root ball level with or slightly higher than the surrounding soil. Allow at least 5 feet between smaller varieties and up to 25 feet for large, tree-type varieties.
How close do hollies need to be to pollinate?
The most common reason for a lack of berries is that the tree is a male or that a male tree is not available nearby to pollinate a female one. The male pollinator does not need to be right next to the female plant. Hollies are pollinated mainly by bees. Even 200 feet is within the range that bees can carry pollen.
How far back can I cut my holly bushes?
Deciduous hollies are in a pruning category all their own. These vigorous growers 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, but never remove more than one-third of the shrub.
How do you encourage holly to grow?
Prune the stems and avoid cutting the leaves. If you cut the leaves they will discolour at the edges although they grow through this after a couple of years. It’s best to cut the stem above an actively growing bud. This will encourage the bud to grow and produce a new stem and leaves.
Are coffee grounds good for holly bushes?
Feed Your Acid-Loving Plants Place coffee grounds around the soil of your acid-loving plants such as azaleas, hydrangeas, lilies, roses, rhododendrons, holly, gardenias and many others. Coffee grounds increase acidity and nutrients in the soil. This is our favorite reason to use coffee grounds in your garden.
Can holly bushes be transplanted?
If absolutely necessary, you can transplant holly bushes in the early fall. The chances of the leaves dropping will be increased, but the holly bushes will most likely survive. If you do end up with a naked holly after transplanting a holly shrub, don’t panic.
