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How far can you cut back holly?
Work with the natural shape of your Holly Trees for best results. Simply prune off new growth or up to ⅓ of the overall plant. Never prune the lower branches shorter than the upper branches. The lower branches won’t have good light penetration and your holly bush will suffer.
When should you cut back a holly tree?
The safest time to prune a holly tree is during its dormant phase, which is late winter to early spring. The tree generally only needs light pruning in order to keep it looking tidy and to maintain its health by removing any congested branches to boost airflow.
How do I make my holly tree smaller?
You can maintain the height by pruning back the leader (main shoot) each year in late winter or early spring. (Your current timing is fine.) You can even reduce the size by cutting back the leader to just above an existing branch lower on the tree.
What happens if you top a holly tree?
If you remove the top of the tree, new branches form along the trunk within a foot or two of the cut. As the limbs grow, train one shoot to become a central leader and resume the normal growth of the tree.
Can you cut a holly back to the ground?
Hollies generally take on an attractive symmetrical shape with little or no pruning. If hollies become overgrown and need to be drastically reduced in size, they are tolerant of being cut back severely. In fact, a mature holly can generally be cut to the ground and will regrow vigorously from its roots.
How do you prune an overgrown holly tree?
- Cut back one-third of the oldest and tallest stems of your holly tree to within 6 to 12 inches of the ground in early spring.
- Prune an additional one-third of the stems back the following spring.
- Lop the remaining one-third of old stems off in the third year and remove the tips from the previous year’s new shoots.
Can I cut down a holly tree in my garden?
Many holly species can grow into small trees if their growth is not curbed. If hollies become overgrown and need to be drastically reduced in size, they are tolerant of being cut back severely. In fact, a mature holly can generally be cut to the ground and will regrow vigorously from its roots.
Can I cut down a holly tree?
How long does a holly tree live?
The Holly plant does grow pretty slow, but can eventually attain a height of around 30-50 feet in a compact pyramid shape. If planted in the right conditions and decently cared for some hollies can live up to 100 years or longer.
How do I get rid of a large holly tree?
Use a spade shovel to work your way around the stump of the holly tree, creating a trench to expose the buried roots. Use a chopping ax to separate the roots from the stump. Insert a landscaping bar underneath the stump and pry upward to break any existing roots and to remove the stump from its hole.