most size estimates are at 10 years .... and they just keeping going after that ....

if they grow 5 feet wide in 10 years.. and you plant them 10 feet apart.. it will take 10 years for them to meet ... 5 years if 5 feet apart ...

so its just a function of how fast you want them to come together ... and your budget ....

you should consider interspersing some other plants.. just in case some holly plague rolls thru over the years ...

ken

Hi Ken, thanks for answering. I want a tight hedge fairly quickly but was concerned about planting them too closely for their future health (I once planted Nellie Stevens too closely and there was dieback between the plants). The hollies I purchased are 4' H x 3' W, and my thought was to plant them 3 or 4' apart. Which would you advise? Do you have any recommendations for something to intersperse that would also give dense privacy and blend well with the Steeds hollies? What do you think of pyracantha for that purpose? I plan to come in front of the hedge with a mix of osmanthus fragrans, camellias, viburnums, spirea, buddleia and other shrubs, but am having difficulty coming up with what to place where.

Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

So how far apart diid you end up planting the steed holly? Did you put something else between them