How to Prune a Yaupon Holly Tree
- 1. Cut broken, dead and diseased branches down to the point where they join a larger branch closer to the center whenever you notice them. ...
- 2. Prune up to one-third of the branches out of the yaupon holly to open its interior to more sun and air circulation, particularly when the plant is young. ...
When should I prune my yaupon holly?
Dwarf yaupon hollies can be lightly pruned or sheared almost any time of year. That said, to avoid freeze damage to tender new growth stimulated by pruning, cease pruning or shearing in fall, two months prior to the average first-frost date in your area. When plants have stopped growing in winter pruning can resume.
How much can I trim a yaupon holly?
Answer: Yaupon hollies are very strong plants and grow large. They can be pruned severely, even cut to the ground with a chainsaw, and still grow back just fine. If they are not planted in a place where they can be allowed to grow they will frequently be a problem even if cut to the ground every few years.
How do you shape a yaupon?
Yaupon hollies naturally grow in a basic round form, but pruning gives them a neat, rounded shape. Tip pruning results in a flourish of new growth at the tips, so you must trim the holly regularly to maintain the shape.
Can you keep yaupon holly small?
Dwarf yaupon holly grows slowly but regularly. Pruning once every year or every two years is enough if you want to keep it smallish. Dwarf yaupon holly is often grown in pots: if so, prune up to twice a year (spring and early fall) to keep it small.
How big is a weeping Yaupon holly?
Capable of reaching 30 feet or more in height, Weeping Yaupon Holly is most often seen 15 to 20 feet tall with a spread of only 6 to 12 feet. Old plants will spread to 25 feet.
Can you cut off the top of a holly tree?
A trim up can be a good idea if you like a clean look or are keeping a holly tree hedge. 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.
Can I cut my holly tree in half?
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.
What is yaupon holly good for?
Yaupon hollies' dense and shrubby evergreen growth make them ideal for screens or hedges while also providing habitat for songbirds and other wildlife.
How big does a dwarf yaupon holly get?
It has a height of four feet and reaches a spread of five feet. It is the perfect ornamental shrub. It does well with mass planting and is great for ground cover.
How fast does yaupon grow?
Young weeping yaupon trees getting established can grow at a rate of 2 to 3 feet a year. A young tree planted in a Florida garden attained a 10 foot height in just two years. The young stems have a downy appearance and purplish tint.
Will yaupon grow in shade?
While yaupon holly will grow in shade, it prefers sunny locations, which will provide more of the wildlife-pleasing fruit. Keep the soil moist with regular watering and mulch until the plant is established, but fertilization should not be necessary. Once established, it should need no special care.
What is the smallest yaupon holly?
Dwarf Yaupon Holly will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years.
Can holly be cut back hard?
How far back can you cut holly back? 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.
Can you use hedge trimmers on holly bushes?
Small-leaved holly, such as the Japanese (Ilex crenata) and Yaupon hollies (Ilex vomitoria), respond very well to shearing with hedge clippers or trimmers, which is the reason they're often used in landscape design as tightly-clipped hedges and various formal shapes.
Can you shape holly bushes?
You can shape a holly tree to your tastes by pruning, and some people cut off some lower branches to expose more of the trunk. If you do not want your tree to get overly tall, you can prune back the leader every winter.
Is it OK to trim holly bushes now?
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.
How tall does a yaupon holly get?
Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11 and is considered a shrub to small tree -- it can reach 15 to 30 feet tall. The plant flowers on new growth, so wait until winter to prune yaupon hollies to avoid cutting off the berries.
What is the name of the holly that has red berries?
By Patricia H. Reed. The bright red berries of yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) add a festive note to your winter garden, though the relatively smooth edges of the evergreen's oval leaves don't resemble the lobed, spiky foliage of traditional Christmas holly.
Is yaupon holly poisonous?
Despite its scientific name, yaupon holly is not poisonous. The plant's leaves, which contain caffeine, were brewed into a tea with other ingredients and consumed in great quantities to the point of vomiting during certain Native American ceremonies.
Do you need to plant a male or female yaupon holly?
Yaupon hollies are dioecious, meaning you need to plant both a male and female plant for berries to occur on the female plant.
Do yupon hollys sucker?
Yaupon holly has a tendency to sucker and form thickets.
Do yupon hollies have caffeine?
The plant's leaves, which contain caffeine, were brewed into a tea with other ingredients and consumed in great quantities to the point of vomiting during certain Native American ceremonies. Yaupon hollies are dioecious, meaning you need to plant both a male and female plant for berries to occur on the female plant.
Where is the Weeping Yaupon Holly native to?
Weeping yaupon holly is known scientifically as Ilex vomitoria 'Pendula.' This species of tree is native to Florida and requires little irrigation or maintenance once the trees are established.
What color are yaupon hollies?
The berries range from orange to red, and are somewhat translucent. Birds and other wildlife will feed on them through the winter months. Because of their cascading form, weeping yaupon hollies are relatively compact.
Do you need a Holly to grow berries?
You'll need to buy a female holly if you want a plant that produces berries. Your best bet is to shop for a holly during the winter and purchase one that already has berries on it.
Can you prune a yaupon holly?
You can also limb up lower branches if you want to expose the lower trunk. Weeping yaupon holly is relatively free of serious pests and diseases, although scale, leaf miners, mites, and aphids can sometimes be a problem.
How tall does a Yaupon Holly grow?
Female plants have bright red berries in the fall. The glossy evergreen leaves do not have spines. Yaupon holly grows 15 to 25 tall and wide with a spreading canopy.
How to remove dead limbs?
Remove dead or diseased limbs with the proper pruning tool. Symptoms of disease include slimy spots on the bark, peeling bark, split wood, or dead or dying leaves. Remove crossed or rubbing limbs, as well as damaged limbs, with the appropriate pruning tools.
How to cut a limb?
Cut limbs smaller than ½ inch in diameter with hand pruners. Cut larger limbs up to 1 inch with lopping shears. Cut limbs larger than 1 inch with a pruning saw. Make cuts at a bud or joint at a 30 degree angle.
Can yupon hollies be pruned?
Yaupon hollies can also be pruned as topiaries.
What to wear when pruning a tree?
Always wear safety glasses and garden gloves when pruning.
How to make a hedge look fuller?
If pruning to form a hedge, prune so the bottom of the hedge is slightly wider than the top. This allows sunlight to reach the bottom branches and creates a fuller look when new branches form.
