Taming Holly Bushes
Adrian
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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wisconsitom
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Something is eating our Holly bushes...
Comments (7)To: kansas gardener 2008's question "...do squirrels do this kind of damage???" Yes! To illustrate a real, live case: I live in the S Jersey area, a holly haven and lots of grey squirrels. About 2 mos. ago I noticed a prize holly tree, with the red berries, a tree of about 25' and located about 30' from my house, beginning to appear slightly bare...and increasingly bare as time went on, like it had a blight. Following focused attention, it didn't take long to find the cause. The tree was being worked over by 2 grey squirrels. Usually right at or after daybreak, I'd find 1 or both of them perched or hanging on branches, eating the berries...chewing through leaves and clusters of leaves in the process; the debris (leaves, leaf clusters, and even with berries) simply fell to the ground as discards. The little beasts were chewing and eating their way through the tree! Simple loud clapping from an open window would usually scare them away immediately or within a minute or so. That's not the cure for obvious reasons (too bad I couldn't hire a local red fox or hawk to post guard and keep the squirrels at a distance). Researched and did some thinking and analysis of my own. I had tried several of the simple, usual deterrents, without overall desirable results to date. If you've watched the Star Trek Next Gen series, you're familiar with the insurmountable "Borg". These 2 squirrels show similar behavior...they "adapt" to countermeasures and render them "futile". Keep in mind, however, that I am not using any measures to physically harm them. Two most promising approaches appear to be: (1) trapping and relocation to >3 miles away [by an approved process and within local ordinances, needless to say...and keeping in mind that squirrels have young ones in the nest twice a year who need "mother".] If you've got a lot of squirrels, relocating them could be a daunting task. (2) psychological strategy: install a feeding station (for the squirrels) away from the area you want them to avoid with the hope of training them to stay away, creating a win-win for both you and squirrels [once again, within the ordinances of your locale; some areas have unusual regulations on feeding or interfering with wild animals]; but, that's the world we live in today. Both of these "more promising" cures can be costly. One other possibility...don't plant foilage that they feed on as a trade-off (won't help much with my native hollys). Good Luck partner......See MoreHow would you tame her??(large bush pics)
Comments (16)Do you need to cut it back right now? I think that you'd encourage wild growth, going in angles that you don't want, if you prune it hard now in the middle of growing season. If you can wait till your usual pruning season, I'd really recommend cutting out canes altogether from the center, rather than whacking from the ends. You could reduce it to eight or ten canes during pruning season - or even less, if you want to grow it supported on a pillar. We grow ours in the Sacramento cemetery semi-pegged. You need room to do this. We cut out old, weak or damaged canes when we prune (which is Jan/Feb here), let some of the canes arch upwards naturally, and pull out the rest nearly horizontal, tying them down with tent pegs. Laterals pop out all along the canes, and the blooms stud their entire length. We cut back the laterals when we prune, just like you would do on a climber. There's a photo of this technique in Liz Druitt's book "Landscaping with Antique Roses," if I recall. (It's available used on Amazon.) The cemetery's MIP is in full bloom right now, and its scent wafts 20 feet. Wonderful. I really envy you your vigorous plant. Anita...See MoreHolly Bush won't grow
Comments (1)Where are you located, what kind of holly, size of the holly when planted? It would also be useful to know what kind of general care the plant receives....See MoreWhat can I do with this? Holly Bush?
Comments (16)Cut down to start over in spring. Let it grow naturally and then cut down again each time when too big instead of shearing into a tight shape. This will look better because these are individual specimens in an informal planting, and not a hedge or formal layout with all shrubs sheared closely - with the hedge or formal garden patterns being the individual features instead of each shrub itself....See MoreAdrian
8 years agoAdrian
8 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years agoDave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
8 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years agoAdrian
8 years agogardenshine
8 years ago
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