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If your Ilex is bare, you don't have to worry too much. The trees can be brought back into shape with the right measures. How to properly care for holly.
In a nutshell
- Ilex is balding due to missed editing measures
- Make taper cut
- best time in March or June
root cause
Missing pruning measures are the most common cause when the ilex wilts. With slow-growing shrubs such as holly with a maximum of 15 centimeters per year, annual pruning is sometimes forgotten. If this happens over a longer period of time, the wood will bare from below. This is reflected in the following symptoms:
- sparse foliage
- Leaf formation does not occur
- Shoots appear old or dry
- Ilex looks unsightly
Regular care protects the Ilex (here I. aquifolium) from balding.
A balding can be seen especially in older specimens that have not been cut for several years. In order to let the plant shine in lush green again, it needs a rejuvenation cut. By pruning to rejuvenate, you reduce the plant by a large part of the existing material. The cut drives the holly to new shoots, which effectively counteracts bare growth.
Notice: Holly is hardy and not susceptible to diseases and pests. For this reason, they are not responsible if the Ilex wilts.
time
Once you have decided to have a makeover cut, you need to wait for the right time. Although holly is well tolerated by pruning, you should not shorten the wood arbitrarily. The ideal time for a trimming trimming of Ilex specimens is one of the following dates:
- middle of March
- end of June
If you choose to prune in the spring, be careful not to unnecessarily debilitate the holly. For this reason, you should only perform the taper cut in March if the following points do not occur:
- snow
- night frosts
- frozen floors
If it is too dangerous, be sure to move the date to the end of June. That way you don't put unnecessary pressure on the holly.
tool
For the taper cut you need the right tool. This includes:
- Secateurs or pruning shears
- gloves
- stepladder
Sharp and clean tools minimize the risk of injury to the plants.
Make sure the scissors are disinfected and sharpened before cutting the wood. This is particularly important if you have previously cut diseased plants with scissors. The stepladder helps you to reach difficult places. The gloves protect against injuries from the leaves. They have sharp thorns that can be very painful.
Notice: Also wear long clothing when pruning holly to avoid injuring yourself on the leaves. Due to the growth, you can quickly come into contact with the thorns.
Taper Cut: Instructions
Once the appointment has come, you can start editing. Don't be surprised if your specimens have lost a lot of mass after the cut. The loss of plant material stimulates growth. The following instructions explain the cut in detail:
- First examine the plant, look for the bare branches and mark them with tape or string if necessary. Also, get an idea of the shape of the holly. Neglected specimens are often wider at the top than at the bottom, preventing the lower branches from getting enough sun.
- Now cut off the dead shoots completely. To do this, place the scissors directly on the trunk and remove the branch or shoot. Just be careful not to damage the trunk. The loss of mass is already clearly visible here.
- The rejuvenation cut can be perfectly combined with a general grooming cut. To do this, not only remove the bare branches, but also dry, dead, injured or diseased ones, as possible diseases could otherwise spread further.
- Do not forget to shorten or completely remove shoots that grow crosswise or diagonally outwards or inwards. They often compete with other shoots, which negatively affects the overall growth and lushness of the plant.
- If desired, you can give the holly a final shape. A topiary is particularly necessary when the crown has to be shortened at the top so that the ilex becomes wider at the bottom. Dispose of the cuttings afterwards and take care of the plant as usual.
frequently asked Questions
How can a further baldness be prevented?Be sure to give your holly an annual grooming pruning. This keeps the plant vital and it is not neglected. You don't have to worry about the small growth of about 15 centimeters a year. Thanks to annual pruning measures, the plants are protected from balding.
How are dead trimmings disposed of?You can easily dispose of the dead prunings of the holly on the compost. as long as they were not sick or infested with pests. You don't have to worry about the toxic ingredients in the plant. These are decomposed during rotting and no longer pose a danger to people and animals.
What else should be considered during the cut?Since Ilex species are poisonous in all parts of the plant, you should also wear gloves to protect against escaping plant juices. They can lead to further symptoms of poisoning and pain if they come into contact with sensitive skin areas or injuries that have already been sustained.