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What is the best fertilizer for hollies?
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.
Is Sky Pencil Holly acid loving?
Sky pencil prefers slightly acidic soil; however, it will do well in almost any soil type as long as it is well-drained. When planting, dig a hole as deep as the root ball and about three times as wide. This will entice the roots to spread adequately. Prune this holly during the late fall when it is dormant.
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.
Can you use Miracle Grow on hollies?
It feeds instantly, and is great for use on acid-loving plants, including azalea, camellia, gardenia, hibiscus, holly, hydrangea, and orchid. Use watering can or Miracle-Gro® Garden Feeder™ to apply.
How do you fertilize sky pencil holly?
Fertilize Sky Pencil hollies in spring with one pound of 10-6-4 or special broadleaf evergreen fertilizer per inch (2.5 cm.) of trunk diameter. Spread the fertilizer over the root zone and water it in. Established plants need watering only during dry spells.
How do I maintain my sky pencil holly?
A new Sky Pencil Holly requires frequent watering until the roots are well established. Make sure that the soil is just moist and not soggy. Soggy soil will increase the risk of rotting or fungal infections. These plants only need watering during dry spells once they are established.
Why is my sky pencil holly dying?
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.
Does Sky Pencil holly grow fast?
How Fast Does The Sky Pencil Holly Grow? This is a fast growing shrub that will grow up to 10" in a year to mature height of 6-8 feet.
Can you overwater a holly?
Nearly every plant can be overwatered, including the holly tree. Overwatering will eventually kill your holly tree.
When should you fertilize holly trees?
A liquid fertilizer, Miracid works well. This liquid fertilizer is mixed with water and applied the same as you would water the plant (see product for specific details). This type of fertilization should be done three or four times per year, starting in April and ending by the mid-July.
Is Epsom salt good for holly bushes?
Horticultural researchers argue that Epsom salt will only help plants that are suffering from deficiencies of magnesium and sulfur, the minerals in Epsom salt. It can be used on evergreens in moderation, but may not improve the health or appearance of the plants if they are not deficient in magnesium or sulfur.
Are coffee grounds good for holly trees?
Hollies. 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.
Why does my Sky Pencil Holly have yellow leaves?
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.
Can 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.
Is a Japanese holly and Sky Pencil Holly the same?
Be sure to choose the appropriate location for your Sky Pencil Holly aka Japanese Holly Sky Pencil. As long as you avoid extreme temperatures you can plant your Holly almost any time of the year. Hollies tolerate full sun to part sun.
Is Sky Pencil same as Japanese holly?
Sky Pencil is a cultivar of the Japanese holly Ilex crenata. Sky Pencil has a unique, very narrow, upright growth habit that looks great in the garden as an accent plant, and it has quickly become very popular across the country.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Does the sky pencil grow in acidic soil?
The Sky Pencil grows well in a wide variety of soil but loves to grow in the slightly acidic soil having moisture keeping ability.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Do birds like sky pencil holly?
The Sky Pencil Holly has small, oval, green leaves that stay this color year-round, like all evergreens. A big bonus of this evergreen holly, however, is that it doesn’t have prickly leaves like so many other hollies have.
How tall is a sky pencil holly?
Sky Pencil Holly is a relatively slow-growing, columnar shrub that reaches 4-10 feet in height, with width only about 1/3 of that. When my own shrub reached 6 feet tall, its width was only 12 inches at the widest point. The “column” is narrowest at the base, slowly tapering out along the plant’s ascent skyward.
What zone should I plant Sky Pencil Holly?
Planting Zones for Sky Pencil Holly: The parent species, Ilex crenata is indigenous to the Orient. Sky Pencil Holly is often listed for planting zones 6-8. I have grown mine successfully in a microclimate (namely, the south side of the house) in zone 7-8.
What is the name of the flower that sells like a sky pencil?
Plant taxonomy lists the genus and species as Ilex crenata.
Is Sky Pencil Holly evergreen?
Sky Pencil Holly is a broadleaf evergreen shrub. A related shrub is Ilex crenata‘Hetzii’. Both are types of Japanese holly, which is valued for its small, tightly-packed leaves; many a casual observer has been duped into thinking these shrubs to be boxwoods, which exhibit a very similar soft foliage.
Can you use sky pencil holly for privacy?
Sky Pencil holly could work well as a component in the latter. Alternatively, where the goal along a border is simply to provide a definition , rather than privacy, a row of Sky Pencils could form an attractive “colonnade” of sorts.
Can Sky Pencil Holly grow in full sun?
My own Sky Pencil holly has performed well in full sun. But this narrow, columnar shrub is listed as a bush that tolerates shade. It will grow best in a well-dr ained so il that is allowed neither to become too wet nor too dry . This shrub prefers a soil pH that is acidic.
What is a sky pencil holly?
Sky Pencil Holly is a handsome evergreen shrub in the Aquifoliaceae family. It is 6-8' high, is densely branched, tight, and has columnar growth. It is a good container or accent plant and works well in formal gardens as it provides a good vertical accent in mixed borders. This plant prefers sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of poor and sandy soil but prefers clay. It is intolerant of alkaline soils and drought. Sky Pencil Holly is easy to transplant and urban tolerant. This plant has pest problems and needs protection from the wind.
Do sky pencil holly trees have fruit?
Black, globose, berrylike-fruit on pollinated female plants from fall to winter that are 1/4 inch in length. Fruits are hidden below the foliage. Sky Pencil Holly cultivars are all female, thus a male cultivar is required nearby for pollination.
Botryosphaeria Canker
This plant can sometimes be susceptible to botryosphaeria canker. The disease will cause the leaves of this shrub to turn brown, with scorched or burnt edges. It also appears as if there are small holes in the foliage, which is a symptom of a type of fungus that enters through these “wounds.”
Web Blight
Botryosphaeria or sky pencil holly is also vulnerable to web blight. This disease causes the branches of this shrub to curl tightly. It gives the appearance that they are wrapped in webbing, which can be quite startling when you first notice it.
Leaf Spot
This shrub can be susceptible to leaf spot. This is a fungal disease that causes small brown, black or red spots to appear on the foliage. It will appear during humid weather, though it prefers wet conditions.
Root Rot
The Sky Pencil Holly is prone to root rot, it will cause foliage loss off and on during the year. This does not always mean that you have a problem with your roots; there are other factors that can come into play here.
How to get fertilizer to sink into soil?
Replace the mulch and water slowly and deeply after applying the fertilizer. Slow watering allows the fertilizer to sink into the soil rather than running off.
Do holly bushes need fertilizer?
Holly Plant Fertilizer: How And When To Feed Holly Shrubs. Fertilizing hollies regularly leads to plants with good color and even growth, and it helps the shrubs resist insects and disease. This article explains when and how to fertilize holly bushes.
