How to Plant Holly Shrubs

Overview

Hollies bring unusual foliage in summer garden and persistent berries for winter interest. Evergreen holly grows widely in Atlantic Europe and the southeastern U.S. Deciduous hollies, called "winterberries," extend the range of these attractive plants northward. Plant male and female plants to ensure copious amounts of berries. Evergreen holly demands well-drained clay loam but deciduous hollies tolerate heavier clay soil. Plant holly shrubs during their dormant periods. Plant evergreen hollies in very early spring before growth buds swell on plants, and plant deciduous forms in early spring or in late fall before the ground freezes.

Step 1

Locate holly where it will have enough room to spread; evergreen holly needs about 10 feet on all sides. Deciduous possumhaw and winterberry hollies require less; 5 to 8 feet should suffice. Check packaging for spacing specific to your variety.

Step 2

Dig a sloping hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball. Remove the container or wrapping and spray the roots if they are dry. Trim any injured branches back to a growth node where a new branch can form.

Step 3

Place the holly in the hole and rough up the soil on the sides if the soil is heavy and the sides are packed smooth. Fill the hole halfway and water well to settle the soil. Arrange the shrub as the water settles so that its crown sits in the soil at the same level as it was in the container.

Step 4

Finish back-filling the hole with garden soil. Mulch the shrub with 2 to 3 inches of pine bark, straw or well-rotted leaf mulch.

Step 5

Water the shrub well; it should need no further watering until summer. Protect holly with a plastic sleeve or hardware cloth cage if deer or rabbits are a problem in your garden. Tender hollies make attractive snacks.