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North facing planter

KmehKmeh Posts: 173
in Plants
Hello,

I have two holly trees in north facing planters, that straddle the front door. They don't get a great deal of light obviously and the back of one has started to die. My local garden centre staff feel its because the lack of light. 

Would this be correct? Their only solution was to turn the plant to ensure it gets more light - but as you can see from the photo - isn't possible given the size of the plant and planter!

So if these plants are destined to fail - what might work in these planters if anything. Or should I just pick something smaller that can be moved?

Any advice appreciated!

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    💡 Could you not put the planter on a little ‘flat-bed trolley’ with castors … then you could turn it easily. 
    You could probably get a couple made for less than two lollipop standard hollies  have already cost you. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Aha yes not a bad idea at all! Thank you 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - you need to turn them. They'd have been fine if you'd done that.  :)
    We had standard hollies of around that size at a previous house. They were lovely, but that's all I did to keep them right. 
    It's also important to be vigilant re the soil they're in and the watering they get. Regardless of aspect, they can easily dry out. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KmehKmeh Posts: 173
    Fairygirl said:
    Yes - you need to turn them. They'd have been fine if you'd done that.  :)
    We had standard hollies of around that size at a previous house. They were lovely, but that's all I did to keep them right. 
    It's also important to be vigilant re the soil they're in and the watering they get. Regardless of aspect, they can easily dry out. 
    Thank you. If I can find a way of turning the planter, do you think they would recover?

    Of not, any suggestion, what might work in the planter, that doesn't require turning. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Holly's pretty robust, so it would depend on how long they've struggled as to whether they'd recover. You can trim them back and see, but do it during a milder spell to avoid any frost/ice damage. 
    To be honest, anything in a planter in that kind of situation would benefit from being turned regularly to keep the foliage even all round. 
    If you struggle to turn them, perhaps it would be easier to have something slightly smaller and lighter instead. Or a 'globe' rather than a taller plant. Box would be the usual, but there are alternatives if you're in an area affected by the caterpillar, or by blight.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    That's a lovely planter - but does it have drainage holes?  If it does (and it should) lifting it onto a plate (you can get them that have a sort of filigree cut out) with casters will help the drainage as well as being able to turn the holly.  If it doesn't - the plant will need repotting into something that does otherwise the roots could get waterlogged and rot. 
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I can't see the type of holly, but based on the trunk size, it's a pretty large specimen. I think it's pushed too close to the wall and over time, like many shrubs grown against walls or fences, leaves will drop off and go twiggy. Try to pull the container out a bit more. If it's newly planted, keep an eye on watering. Even though it's winter, shrubs need a lot of water, especially evergreen shrubs against a wall causing a rain shadow, they sometimes still growing over winter.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Could you screw castors onto the bottom of the four corners Kmeh? 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Also, if it's that close to the wall, the leaves will be abraded by the wall if there's any wind.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There are certainly other factors involved - the growing medium and whether it's suitable, the amount of watering- whether too much or too little, wind/wall damage, the blue rope [?] the soil level on planting [it looks quite deep]  light etc. 

    I assumed it had been correctly planted and cared for, and based my reply on that, but all these other points certainly need consideration, and will also determine the outcome. Most Ilexes are pretty straightforward and trouble free, which is why they're good for this sort of topiary and planting scheme  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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