- Fertilizing Basics. Fertilizing holly bushes in March and September encourages rapid, healthy growth. Feeding them in late autumn specifically gives them a kick-start for the next year's growing season.
- Types of Fertilizers. Since hollies prefer slightly acidic soil, acid-based fertilizers are smart choices when it's time to feed your shrubs.
- Organic Matter. Holly bushes appreciate a layer of compost on the soil above the root zone. This adds nutrients to the soil just like a traditional fertilizer would.
- For Nutrient Deficiencies. Sometimes soil lacks nutrients that holly bushes need to thrive. ...
What do you feed a holly tree?
When feeding my Holly trees, I use a slow-release shrub and tree fertilizer that contains iron and sulfur at rates recommended on the product label. Alternatively, you can feed with mild, organic plant food .
What is the best fertilizer for holly trees?
A complete fertilizer with a 10-20-20 ratio is another viable choice—for outdoor holly bushes and holly bushes in pots. Nitrogen – represented by the first number in the group – is key. Your third choice is a fertilizer formulated especially for hollies or other evergreens, such as azaleas and rhododendrons.
How much water does a holly bush need?
They do not need to be watered in normal conditions, but if your area is experiencing a drought, you should give your holly bushes at least 2 inches (5 cm.) of water per week. When growing a holly bush, it also helps to mulch around the base of the holly shrub to help retain water in the summer and to even out the soil temperature in the winter.
How do you take care of a newly planted holly?
Make sure that your newly planted holly bush is watered daily for the first week, twice a week for a month after that and, if planting in spring, once a week for the remainder of summer. The care of holly bushes after they are established is easy. Fertilize your holly bushes once a year with a balanced fertilizer.
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Is Miracle Gro good for holly bushes?
Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Miracid® Acid-Loving Plant Food is great for use on Azaleas, Camellias, Gardenias, Hibiscus, Holly, Hydrangeas, Orchids, and many others.
How often should you fertilize holly bushes?
It's all a good idea to add fertilizer to the bush's soil every growing season and test it for potential nutrient depletion. Lastly, it helps ensure that the soil stays moist and well-draining--testing it at least every three months is best.
How do you rejuvenate holly bushes?
0:274:01In the Garden - Pruning Holly Bushes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHard in late winter. Maybe early spring right before a new growth begins.MoreHard in late winter. Maybe early spring right before a new growth begins.
Do holly plants like coffee grounds?
It is well known that holly plants love acidic soil. Sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of Holly Shrubs and Holly Trees for dense foliage growth and improved berry production.
How do I get more berries on my holly bush?
Holly berries will only grow on two-year-old growth. If you prune the holly bush back severely, you will cut this growth off. Also, if you prune in the summer or fall, rather than in the winter or early spring, you may also be cutting off the stems that would produce berries next year.
Is Epsom salt good for holly bushes?
According to the Epsom Salt Council, Epsom salt increases the production of chlorophyll and helps plants grow bushier.
How do you thicken holly bushes?
One trick I've found to "densen up" hollies is shearing. Hollies are good at pushing out new leaf buds even when you cut back into bare wood. The cuts often stimulate new growth from multiple buds, giving the plant a fuller habit as the new leaves grow.
Can you cut holly bushes all the way back?
Cut branches just above new leaf buds or all the way back to main branch. Don't remove lower limbs of English holly. Instead, allow them to branch to the ground. If holly bushes require some major rejuvenation, however, they can be cut to the ground; again, this should be done during winter dormancy.
What time of year do you cut back holly bushes?
So for best outcome and to ensure your hollies aren't unduly stressed, wait until late winter or early spring — just as the plant breaks dormancy — before you do any major downsizing. By waiting till your hollies are about to begin active growth, you'll also avoid several months of a skeleton appearance.
What is the best fertilizer for a holly tree?
Fertilizing Holly Bushes Compost or well-rotted livestock manure makes excellent (and often free) slow-release fertilizers that continue to feed the plant throughout the season. A complete fertilizer that contains eight to ten percent nitrogen is another good choice.
Why are the leaves on my holly turning yellow?
Yellow leaves on holly trees is a fairly common problem for gardeners. On a holly, yellow leaves typically indicates an iron deficiency, also known as iron chlorosis. When a holly plant does not get enough iron, the plant cannot produce chlorophyll and you get yellow leaves on your holly bush.
How do you take care of a holly bush?
Caring for your holly bush: Water daily for the first week after you plant your holly bush, then twice a week afterward until they are established. After that, the bush should receive at least 2 inches of water per week. Fertilize once a year. Weed often, and prune regularly so that the holly doesn't choke itself out.
How much water does a Holly bush need?
If you prefer to do things the old-fashioned (but completely reliable) way and measure water amounts, a holly bush needs at least 2 inches of water per week, reports HGTV. Between fertilizer and water, there is no guarantee that your holly bush will grow to 80 feet tall, but it almost surely will grow on you.
What is the best compost for holly trees?
You can purchase bagged compost at gardening centers, but many gardeners report that a homemade mix is the best compost for holly trees (as well as for their other plants). The manure is fully decomposed livestock waste, often mixed with wood shavings or sawdust, the University of New Hampshire Extension says.
How to identify the root zone of a holly bush?
A simple tactic should help you identify the root zone: Find the longest branch, gently pull it toward you and then encircle the holly bush with it in your hand. The diameter represents the root zone, and it’s where you should apply the fertilizer.
How many species of holly are there?
It often comes down to fertilizer. The holly genus includes about 500 species, and while you don’t have nearly as many choices when it comes to fertilizer, you may enjoy mulling your options.
How tall is a holly plant?
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. That really was a potted holly plant you saw, standing all of 3 feet tall. But that English holly (Ilex aquifolium) that you’re eyeing for your backyard is about 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide, though you’ve heard it can stretch to 80 feet tall and 25 feet wide. The difference?
Do you have to soak holly bush after fertilizing?
Read the directions on the fertilizer label, though in all likelihood, you will have to give the holly bush a slow and deep soak afterward. You may notice that some fertilizers are marked “slow release” – a favored quality among many gardening experts.
Do holly plants need fertilizer?
Bonnie Plants notes that fertilizer feeds a plant while compost feeds the soil. Since water nourishes both, it’s smart to put your holly bush on a regular watering schedule.
What fertilizer should I use for holly trees?
When feeding my Holly trees, I use a slow-release shrub and tree fertilizer that contains iron and sulfur at rates recommended on the product label. Alternatively, you can feed with mild, organic plant food.
What is the pH of a Holly tree?
Any measurement below 7 indicates acid soil conditions, and anything above 7 indicates alkaline. Holly trees prefer an acid to neutral soil ranging from 5.0 to 7.0 on the pH scale. Once you know the soil pH, if necessary, you can adjust it to meet the needs of your tree. Testing Soil pH.
How deep do holly trees grow?
The root system of a holly tree might grow 2 feet deep but the majority of the feeder roots responsible for absorbing nutrients are in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil. Spreading fertilizer on the soil surface is sufficient to reach these feeder roots.
Do holly trees need water?
During the cooler winter months holly trees won't require as much attention to watering. Provide water only if necessary to keep the soil damp. At planting time. When planted during the winter, deep soak the soil and the root ball after planting.
Do you have to water a Holly tree?
However, in average garden soil you should not have to water your newly planted holly tree every day. More often than not, this causes constantly wet soil conditions that can lead to root rot. In the absence of sufficient rainfall water only as needed to keep the root ball and surrounding soil damp to moist.
Can you soak holly tree roots before planting?
Note: Before removing your holly tree from it's nursery pot for planting it is beneficial to soak the root ball.
Do holly trees like wet or dry soil?
Most holly tree varieties prefer a moist but well-drained soil. That said, when established they are more tolerant of dry or wet periods.
What is the best mulch for holly bushes?
Holly bushes appreciate a layer of compost on the soil above the root zone. This adds nutrients to the soil just like a traditional fertilizer would. The organic matter can consist of pine bark, or leftovers from crops such as buckwheat, corn or grass. You can also add farm manure, but keep in mind that it has a high nitrogen content. This organic matter also acts as a mulch, helping the soil retain water so the holly bush doesn't dry out.
What are hollies in the garden?
By Ashley Mackenzie. Hollies (Ilex spp.) are low-maintenance shrubs, often showcasing rich green leaves and red berries. They come in prickly leafed evergreen varieties and deciduous types with rounder leaves. As dioecious plants, they have male and female flowers on different shrubs, though sometimes bees can carry pollen for long distances, ...
Why are my holly leaves yellowing?
If your holly sh rubs exhibit symptoms of nutrient deficiencies -- specifically yellowing leaves that nitrogen doesn't fix -- you can perform a soil test to determine which nutrients your soil lacks. Garden supply stores often sell home soil test kits if you don't want to pay for a professional analysis.
Why mulch around holly shrubs?
When growing a holly bush, it also helps to mulch around the base of the holly shrub to help retain water in the summer and to even out the soil temperature in the winter.
What do holly bushes do in the winter?
Growing holly bushes in your yard can add structure and a splash of color in the winter and a lush, green backdrop for other flowers in the summer. Because they are such popular plants, many people have questions about the care of holly bushes.
Why wrap holly shrubs in burlap?
If you find that your holly shrubs are being damaged in the winter by snow and wind, you can wrap the holly shrubs in burlap to protect them from the weather.
Do holly bushes need a male plant?
Instead, you can also try to find holly varieties that do not need a male plant in order to produce holly berries. The initial care of holly bushes after they are planted is much like other trees and shrubs.
Do holly plants grow in shade?
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. If you are growing a holly bush for its bright berries, you need to keep in mind that most holly varieties have male and female plants and that only the female holly shrub produces berries.
Do you need a male or female holly plant to grow berries?
This means that in the location where you would like to plant a holly bush with berries, you will need to plant a female variety and you will also need to make sure that a male variety is planted nearby. Instead, you can also try to find holly varieties that do not need a male plant in order to produce holly berries.
4. How Do I Fertilize Holly?
If you want to fertilize holly there are several important tips you should follow:
5. When Should I Fertilize Holly?
When you should fertilize holly depends on the holly you grow (annual or perennial), when the holly blooms, and the fertilizer you use.
6. How Often Should I Fertilize My Holly?
How often you should fertilize your holly depends on the fertilizer and soil.
7. How Do I Know if My Holly Need Fertilizer?
You will know if your holly need fertilizer if you observe one of the following:
8. What Alternatives to Fertilizers Can I Apply to Holly?
If you do not want to use retail or commercial flower fertilizers then you can use the below alternatives. These alternatives will not only help your plant but the soil around it:
How to keep holly bush from berry production?
Apply nitrogen rich, acid based fertilizer around the holly bush. If too much nitrogen fertilizer is added to the plant it may inhibit flower growth, and thus will reduce berry production. Add an acid based fertilizer each late fall, after a hard freeze, to the holly bush.
How long does it take to get a soil test for Holly bushes?
Contact your local agricultural extension service for their process and procedures. Soil test results may take from three to six weeks to receive the analysis.
Why are my holly leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves or lack of the telltale red berries may come from a number of reasons, one of which is poor fertilization. Applying fertilizer to the holly is best done in early spring or late fall after a hard freeze. Improper pH levels may be a cause for yellowing leaves as well.
Does nitrogen kill yellow leaves?
The extra nitrogen though may eliminate the yellow leaves. If no soil test was conducted, follow the label directions on the fertilizer package for broadleaf evergreen shrubs and plants. Various strengths and types of fertilizers will have different application rates.
Can fertilizer kill a drought stressed plant?
Never apply fertilizer to any plant that is drought stressed. The chemicals may kill the plant.
Do holly bushes need acidic soil?
Holly bushes thrive in slightly acidic soils that contain high amounts of organic matter.
