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What age to start training Japanese Holly into a hedge?

IronSquirrelIronSquirrel Posts: 68
in Plants
My friend has a row of Japanese Hollies, they're only about 12 inch tall , they look like these, but a little taller, and are about 30cm apart.

Now all the info I read on pruning them talks about what season to, literally nothing I've found on what actual age or height you can start provoking them into a hedge-shape.

Can anyone help with that? 
Thanks!

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin”
Trolius & Cressida

Posts

  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I would say it depends on how high you want them tbh. If it's a low hedge then it is easier because when you trim them they bush out rather than putting on any major upward growth. If you want them tall then if you take any of the top growth out you will increase their bushyness at the expense of height and it can take some time for them to grow taller. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited October 2021
    Those are basically cuttings from a couple of years ago, so they're still very immature if they're that sort of size. Ilex crenata is pretty slow growing too, so it's a good choice for a small hedge.
    I wouldn't be doing anything with them until they've established in whatever site they're in.   :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • IronSquirrelIronSquirrel Posts: 68
    thevictorianzFH0qqPW said:
    I would say it depends on how high you want them tbh. If it's a low hedge then it is easier because when you trim them they bush out rather than putting on any major upward growth. If you want them tall then if you take any of the top growth out you will increase their bushyness at the expense of height and it can take some time for them to grow taller. 
    Sorry, my brain's not wired properly, is that a double-negative? Are you suggesting just leave it for now, and just trim the sides if they want height?
    “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin”
    Trolius & Cressida
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Basically if you want the plants to grow taller then don't trim the top because this will reduce the upwards vigour. Taking the tops off will make them bush out and fill in more quickly, so if you want a low hedge the height they are now then you can prune the top but if you want them taller, leave them to grow to nearer the height you need first.

    It's good advice by Fairygirl to let them settle in, root well and become strong plants before you consider touching them.  
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