How big does a sky pencil Holly get?
Read on to find out how to plant a Sky Pencil holly and how easy it is to care for this interesting plant. About Sky Pencil Holly. Sky Pencil hollies are narrow, columnar shrubs that grow up to 8 feet tall and 2 feet wide. With pruning, you can maintain them at a height of 6 feet and a width of just 12 inches.
How do you plant a sky pencil Holly?
The Sky Pencil grows well in a wide variety of soil but loves to grow in the slightly acidic soil having moisture keeping ability. Once you have chosen a place for you Holly bushes, dig up a hole thereto the depth of a root ball with the width of 3 times more than depth.
How close to a house can you plant a holly tree?
Planting 5 feet from the home should not promote any problem with your foundation or neighbors yard. This plant can also grow to a height of 8 to 10 feet so any overhang from the home or patio should be taken into account. Below I have noted the link to the Sky Pencil Holly plant file in Gardenality.
Can I use Sky pencil Holly as a hedge?
You don’t have to worry about coming in contact with the plant because the leaves aren’t prickly as with other types of holly shrubs. In the ground, you can use Sky Pencil holly shrubs as a hedge plant.
How wide do Sky Pencil Holly get?
2-3 feet wideThis Holly Tree can get up to 10 feet in height but stays very narrow at 2-3 feet wide at maturity. Let them grow to the height you would like, and then just keep the top trimmed.
How far apart do you plant Sky pencils?
Space 3 to 4 feet apart. For a formal hedge, plant 2 ½ to 3 feet apart, measure from the center of each plant.
How do you plant a sky pencil holly?
Just be sure to pick a planting spot in full sun for the best appearance vigorous growth. Sky Pencil Holly will be drought tolerant faster if you prep your planting hole right. Dig it twice as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. Be sure to really make the ground soil loose.
How fast do sky pencil holly bushes grow?
Wondering how fast do sky pencil holly grow? This broadleaf evergreen shrub is a slow to moderate grower. The Japanese Sky Pencil holly growth rate is up to 6-12 inches per year. Because of the vertical nature of this hedge plant, it only gets 2-3 feet wide but can be pruned narrower if preferred.
Does Sky Pencil Holly have invasive roots?
Sky Pencil Holly does not have an invasive root structure. They can even be grown in containers. It is recommended to plant 5 feet from a home structure, this is a general guideline for most foundation plantings.
How do I protect my Sky Pencil Holly in the winter?
Some plants are prone to splaying open or having their branches split when weighted with snow. Arborvitaes and Sky Pencil Japanese holly are two common examples. These can be loosely wrapped with foam-covered wire to invisibly hold stems together, or even tie the plant to a nearby structure.
What kills Sky pencils?
Botryosphaeria canker, also known simply as die-back, occurs when the Botryosphaeria fungus enters the 'Sky Pencil' holly's system through breaks or cuts in its stems. The fungus causes the bark and woody tissue around the infection to collapse and turn brown to black, says PennState Extension.
How deep do Sky Pencil Holly roots go?
Holly bushes have very deep, strong roots. They grow between 17 - 25 inches below the dirt. The root system is a taproot. This means holly bushes have one large root that grows straight down and then smaller, less hearty roots that spread out.
Is Sky Pencil Hardy holly?
Sky Pencil hollies are rated for USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. They adapt to full sun or partial shade. In zones 8 and 9, provide protection from harsh afternoon sun. In zone 6 it needs protection from strong winds.
How often should you water holly pencils?
Water well regularly, in the form of 1” of rainfall or irrigation per week (equivalent to a 5-gallon bucket full), often more frequently in extremely warm areas or if in a pot. Established plants need watering only during dry spells. If desired, fertilize in spring.
What is the male pollinator for Sky Pencil Holly?
The Sky Pencil cultivar is female, so it can produce fruit (its small berries look like purple peas), but has no matching male counterpart. Instead, the Blue Prince Holly cultivar works as a pollinator. The Sky Pencil holly is a great way to spruce up a sidewalk or edge of a garage.
When can you transplant holly Sky Pencil?
Schedule transplant for early summer after the Japanese holly has produced flowers. Transplanting at this time allows plenty of time during the summer growing season to ensure acclimation to a new location before winter.
How tall is a 7 gallon Sky Pencil?
4-10 feet tallDense evergreen shrub with a narrow columnar form features small, purple-black berries in the fall. Reaches 4-10 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide at maturity. Full sun to part shade.
Does Sky Pencil holly grow in shade?
Sky Pencil Holly is easy to transplant and urban tolerant. Plant in the full sun to partial shade in acidic well-drained soil though it tolerates a wide range of soil types, from moist to dry, and actually prefers clay. It tolerates shade and air pollution.
Does Sky Pencil hollies like full sun?
Planting and Care of Sky Pencil Hollies They adapt to full sun or partial shade. In zones 8 and 9, provide protection from harsh afternoon sun. In zone 6 it needs protection from strong winds. It grows well in any well-drained soil.
Can you shape sky pencil holly?
0:002:41All About 'Sky Pencil' Hollies In 2 Minutes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsually. Don't get any wider than about two feet. Super easy to control this plant whatever heightMoreUsually. Don't get any wider than about two feet. Super easy to control this plant whatever height you want to keep it you can just hold it together like this and off with its head super.
What zone do sky pencil hollies grow in?
For growing Sky Pencil Hollies the USDA hardiness zones 8 or higher seems best. These plants prefer to grow in full sun but they can also be planted in partial shade so it does not burn.
What are the leaves of a Holly Sky pencil?
Leaves of the holly sky pencil are fairly smooth like boxwoods. The greenish-white coloured flowers grown on this plant are unimpressive but on pollination, it bears the blackberries that attract the birds.
What is a sky pencil holly?
Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata) is a narrow, columnar shaped evergreen plant standing like an exclamation point and announcing to all of the passersby due to its conical evergreen shape.
How tall is a sky pencil?
Sky pencil grows up to the height of 10ft with its broad top branches that taper towards the bottom. If it is allowed to grow on its own it will not grow more than 2 feet wider at its deepest and it is pruned to get narrower and even.
How long does a sky pencil grow?
Due to a slow-growing plant the Sky Pencil will grow well in the container for up to 3 years. After attaining its full height if it seems like that the space in the container is not well enough for the plant to grow next to you should transfer them to a larger one or to the ground as you wish.
How to keep trees from breaking in winter?
If you are living in the area having the snowfall in winters then you will need some extra care to keep the branches of the trees from breaking. To protect them tied up a length of twine spiralled from bottom to top then again back to bottom to keep the branches tightly spiralled and protected.
Can sky pencil holly grow in shade?
Sky Pencil holly is a columnar shrub that can tolerate the shade to some extent but it will grow slower in shade.
How tall does Sky Pencil Holly grow?
The Sky Pencil Holly grows up to 10 feet tall and is broad at the top with its branches tapering off towards the bottom. It will not grow wider than two feet at its deepest and it can be pruned to be even narrower. It is a great choice for spaces where there isn’t room for wider plants. This is actually one of its main draws. There aren’t many shrubs that offer the visual appeal that this one does without taking up huge amounts of space.
How long does a sky pencil Holly flower last?
Because the Sky Pencil Holly is such a slow grower, it will do quite well in a container for up to 3 years.
Why is my sky pencil Holly not able to replace moisture?
The Sky Pencil Holly in these conditions will not be able to replace any moisture it is losing fast enough because the ground is frozen. To prevent Winter Burn, make sure the evergreen is receiving adequate water, that is is shaded from the wind, and that there is mulch around the base to help retain moisture.
What is a sky pencil holly?
It is a cultivated variety of Japanese holly and is classified as a broadleaf evergreen shrub and is part of the boxwood evergreens family.
Why are my holly leaves turning yellow?
Black Rot – This awful fungal disease causes leaves to yellow and drop off. The leaves and stems will start to die off, as well. It can stunt the growth of the plant and if it isn’t discovered in time, it will kill the plant. Young Sky Pencil Hollies and established ones are both susceptible to this disease. If the plant is dropping leaves, it is generally too late to save it and experts recommend removing and destroying it so the disease doesn’t spread to other specimens. This disease can live in the soil so avoid planting another holly in the same place as it will likely suffer the same fate.
How to grow a plant in the ground?
At this point, it is good to add some compost to the hole to enrich the soil and make for better growing. Put the plant in the ground and cover it firmly. Use your foot to compress the soil around it and remove any potential air pockets. Air pockets prevent all parts of the root from touching the soil which isn’t good because the roots get their needed nutrients from the soil.
Can sky pencil holly tolerate drought?
It can even tolerate a mild drought without too much wear and tear. Sun: The Sky Pencil Holly likes full sun in zones 5-7 and partial shade in zones 8-9. Fertilizing: Every spring, this evergreen will benefit from an application of fertilizer. A 10-6-4 blend or one made specifically for broadleaf evergreens is best.
How to get holly bush to root faster?
This will let the roots spread faster without having to put a lot of muscle into the effort. Adding some compost or humus to the so il is always a good way to assist your holly bush to root out with lightning speed.
Is Sky Pencil Japanese Holly straight?
The Sky Pencil Japanese Holly stays straight and narrow naturally. It will be best to keep the top growth sheared of flat. Not only for appearance, but also to allow your new columnar evergreen to stay full.
Do you need to water sky pencil holly?
Always saturate the root ball completely when you plant new Holly Shrubs in your yard. You don’t want to shock the plant while it is adapting to your environment. Watering after you finish planting may not be able to reach all the roots. Sky Pencil Holly will best acclimate to your soil and climate if you water it regularly the first year. Once it is well established, drought won’t bother it at all.
