Its attractive leaf colouring and unusual shape makes Holly a popular plant in the garden. You can also have fun clipping your Holly into all sorts of shapes, from a hedge to a beautiful standard ball and more. Some species are particularly valued for their foliage colour, others because they bear attractive berries. In autumn, birds love the Gardenplant of the Month for November.
Prickly but colourful
There are over 400 different species of deciduous and evergreen Holly (Ilex), the plant native to southern and western Europe, north-west Africa and south-west Asia. The green or variegated foliage and the bright red berries make it an attractive plant all year round in many gardens which can be used on its own, as part of a group planting or as a hedge.
Caring for Holly
The Holly plant will remain healthy and attractive by following a couple of simple tips. Holly is particularly hardy and a very easy plant to have in the garden. It can tolerate both full sun and partial shade and enjoys a normal humus-rich soil that is neither too wet nor too dry. Give the plant a mixed fertiliser in spring and autumn to keep it healthy.
Holly pruning tips
The best time to prune natural Holly is the end of February or beginning of March. Any sooner than this and you run the risk of frost damage. In fact, it’s only really necessary to prune if the plant grows too big, or if it has unsightly or dead branches.
If the Holly is used as a hedge or other clipped form, prune it in June and September. Cutting back to the ‘old wood’ will give poor regrowth with few young shoots so it’s a good idea to tend to the hedge every year!
More information about Holly and other garden plants can be found at Thejoyofplants.co.uk.
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