In a previous garden we found a huge straggly holly and cut it back to within inches of the ground. Then a bonfire was built on it as we thought it was dead (I didn't know much about plants then), a few years later we had a beautiful conical tree with leaves down to the ground.
If you cut it down to 1m which is what I would do, it will start shooting again in March/April. By the end of the summer you will have a bushy holly bush. I was once forced to cut down a mature holly hedge due to some building works. We cut it down to about one foot and it grew back splendidly. Holly is wonderful in that it can sprout new shoots from old wood.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
I'm encouraged - I'm going to compromise on 1m then wait with fingers crossed.
Thanks to you all - could barely keep up with your brilliant responses (and my husband has now stopped bewailing my heavy-handed approach!). Photos will follow as the year progresses.
Solve the problem of hiding the trunk ; cut to within a few inches of the ground to encourage a sturdy growing shrub instead of what is now a sorry looking tree ; (wait 'til late spring though)
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In a previous garden we found a huge straggly holly and cut it back to within inches of the ground. Then a bonfire was built on it as we thought it was dead (I didn't know much about plants then), a few years later we had a beautiful conical tree with leaves down to the ground.
In the sticks near Peterborough
If you cut it down to 1m which is what I would do, it will start shooting again in March/April. By the end of the summer you will have a bushy holly bush. I was once forced to cut down a mature holly hedge due to some building works. We cut it down to about one foot and it grew back splendidly. Holly is wonderful in that it can sprout new shoots from old wood.
I'm encouraged - I'm going to compromise on 1m then wait with fingers crossed.
Thanks to you all - could barely keep up with your brilliant responses (and my husband has now stopped bewailing my heavy-handed approach!). Photos will follow as the year progresses.
Solve the problem of hiding the trunk ; cut to within a few inches of the ground to encourage a sturdy growing shrub instead of what is now a sorry looking tree ; (wait 'til late spring though)
Thanks, Paul - do you mean to wait until late spring to cut it down or is that when you'd expect to see a surge of growth?
New growth can be susceptible to late spring frosts ; hollies are vigorous from May onwards , so I would cut down from end of April .
Right, thanks very much.