Therefore, trimming holly is important for keeping the overall appearance in tip-top shape. It is best to prune holly while the plant is dormant — in winter. Always be sure the pruning cuts are clean and smooth to encourage rapid wound healing. And cut branches just above new leaf buds.
Always remove any dead, damaged or diseased branches. Here is the cross-section of a dead branch — it is very brown and woody in appearance, and has no foliage. Chhewang also uses a inch long-handled bypass pruner to reach higher areas.
The cutters look very similar to hand pruners and provide sharp, accurate pruning. Chhewang trims the wayward branches to shape the hedges and keep these evergreens dense and appropriately proportioned. Last Updated: March 24, References Approved. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed , times. Holly is a popular and decorative garden plant which ranges in size from 2 to 40 feet. Though it's generally a low-maintenance shrub, you will need to prune your plant in order to keep its size under control and to promote the growth of lateral buds and shoots.
Cut any long offshoots to maintain the general shape of your shrub. Make sure your cuts are angled, which will help them heal and drain. You should also cut directly above a lateral bud, instead of in the mid-section of the branch. To thin your bush, cut off a few branches at the stem, but keep in mind that these branches are unlikely to grow back. Try to prune your holly shrub once a year to maintain its shape. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to spot disease and infestation of your holly shrub, read on!
Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article.
We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings.
Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need.
Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Master the basics of pruning. It's not rocket science, but pruning is a bit more complicated than it looks.
There are different techniques of shaping and specific places on the shrub where you should make the cuts, so don't just start chopping. Before you get started, take a minute to review the fundamental terms and concepts pertaining to pruning. Shearing is the act of maintenance where you simply trim the outermost twigs to control length. Thinning is where you cut and remove branches throughout the shrub.
Thinning is generally preferred over shearing, as exclusively shearing will encourage dense growth on the outer edges of the plant and keep sunlight from getting to inner branches. This can create a transparent or hollow look which is considered less desirable than a full, even growth. This is why you want to prune: you want to clip off terminal buds in order to stem the flow of growth-inhibiting hormones and encourage growth of other, non-terminal buds.
When cutting, you want to cut back to a lateral bud node, which is the place on the stem where the lateral bud attaches to the shoot. Figure out what kind of holly shrub you have. Consensus is that late spring, around April, is the best time, as the plant is most receptive to pruning, and the outdoor conditions are conducive to the job.
Pruning too late in the year can increase the risk of new shoots being young when the first frosts hit, leading to stunted ongoing growth. The received wisdom is to prune stems rather than leaves, and to do this as close to a flowering bus as possible. Doing so will encourage the bud to grow, and is the quickest way to facilitate new growth on your holly tree. Theoretically you can prune back very hard, although bear in mind that the stems on the inner part of the tree may have much less growth than the outer ones.
If these formerly inner branches become outer ones on your newly-pruned configuration, the tree may look more barren and bare than it did before. You just have to accept that your holly tree may not look as healthy as it once did. Most holly is sharp! And obviously taking pair of secateurs to your holly tree involves putting your hands, arms, and even face very close to their treacherous barbs.
When pruning holly, make sure to wear the relevant gear. This obviously includes thick gloves, but we recommend wearing long sleeves and long trousers, too. However, there is a limit to their stored energy supply, and it can only be replenished through photosynthesis. If the new growth that emerges when a holly is cut to the ground is removed immediately, the roots will eventually starve and the shrub will die.
Brian Barth works in the fields of landscape architecture and urban planning and is co-founder of Urban Agriculture, Inc. His blog, Food for Thought, explores the themes of land use, urban agriculture, and environmental literacy.
Home Guides Garden Soil Care. By Brian Barth Updated December 17, Related Articles.
0コメント