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| I have a holly tree and the lower branches were trimmed off so that the limbs start several feet up. Is there a way to make the trunk start sprouting again? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| What kind of holly is it? I only know Ilex aquifolium from personal experience and that will sprout by itself. I have the opposite task - removing the sprouts where I want a clean trunk. |
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| I have the same problem with Ilex vomitoria as flora has with aquifolium. It is work keeping it branchless to a certain height. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, Jan 31, 12 at 12:50
| i do not do holly .... but i would like to rephrase the OP's question .. can this shrub [!!!] .. be cut to within about 3 inches of the ground.. to regenerate it ... and with the lack of insult to the root system ... grow like heck in the next year or two??? in the alternative.. can holly be REJUVENATION PRUNED??? .. if so.. have you done it.. and what is your experience .. i am too sick to review the links .... ken ps: i am somewhat confused whether OP wants to maintain it in tree form .... or what she means by that ... single trunk.. multiple trunks.. etc ... |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
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| "can this shrub [!!!] .. be cut to within about 3 inches of the ground.. to regenerate it ... " OMG! If OPs holly TREE is large enough to have the lower branches pruned off in the first place, I doubt they want to chop it. |
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| Everyone limbs them up here and they pretty much always look the worse for it. Not every tree is a parasol acacia on a savannah, but that is the general idea of what a broad-leaved tree should look like. Cutting it down to a stump is not likely to kill it. If a bush is desired in the spot this is a viable way to make it one. |
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| I love the look of limbed hollies, if they are one of the pyramidal, excurrent species. Daisy, I think that we would all like to see a picture of this tree, if possible. Knowing the size and form will help us make more helpful suggestions for you. Some tree hollies can grow to over 50 feet, so it would help to know about how tall yours is. |
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| Pyramidal evergreen trees are exactly the type that look the worst with the basal skirt cut away. |
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| In your humble opinion, you mean? ;-) The exposed trunk can be every bit as attractive in an evergreen as a deciduous tree. I like to match the form with the site...in some landscape, the strong statement of the bare vertical trunks is a perfect design element. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Wed, Feb 1, 12 at 9:13
| the original question: Is there a way to make the trunk start sprouting again? ===>>> so if OP wants a shrub.. she can cut it down ... and it will resprout ... if she prefers a tree shape she can leave it ... even w/o a specific ID as to what holly it is .... right???? still a flu dullard.... ken |
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| The form is going to depend partly on the type of holly. Some are naturally trees, some are naturally shrubs. Some aren't easily convinced to become trees without staking, etc. _____________ See what happens Ken when you email someone with the flu? I bed you didn't even know it was contagious through e-mail, did ya? |
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| Oh, and Ken, hope you get better soon. I was only out of commission for 2 1/2 days. |
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| Again, pyramidal evergreen trees like holly (as usually seen) are not enhanced by being skinned up. A kind of tree that ages into a broader, elevated crown shape on its own is a different story. Pines are a good example, a tall old pine well beyond the Christmas tree phase and with rugged, characterful bark having developed can certainly be a candidate for pruning away of old, small lower branches. |
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