Should I plant a holly hedge now?
Q Can I plant up a mixed holly hedge now to use for Christmas decoration in the future? Paul Sco , Manchester
AIt’s a good time of year to plan your project but, as with all evergreen trees and shrubs, avoid planting in the dead of winter – spring or autumn is best. Plant hollies in an open, sunny site. They tolerate shade, but will be slower growing and are less likely to offer a good display of berries. Hollies grow on a wide range of soils, but they prefer well-drained, fertile ground. Prepare a planting strip at least 1m (40in) wide. Hedges are in place for a long time so clear the soil of all weeds. If the soil’s heavy, throw it up into a low ridge and plant into the top of this in the spring. Always plant garden hedges as single rows. Staggered, double rows are really just for hedges designed to keep livestock in or out. If weeds are likely to be an issue put down a weed suppressing fabric and plant through it. Alternatively, a 10cm (4in) mulch over the roots after planting will suppress many weeds, but keep the stem of the holly free of the mulch. Don’t add any fertilisers until the second spring, but water well once a week in dry spells throughout the first two summers. Clip the sides of young plants in spring to thicken up growth, but leave the top if you want it to grow tall. Established holly hedges can be clipped tightly, but will bear fewer berries. Alternatively, individual plants in the hedge can be clipped more lightly and, perhaps, cloud pruned to make an informal hedge.
You need to grow females if you want good berries, but you need a male nearby to pollinate them. Good pollinators include the hedgehog holly, Ilex aquifolium ‘Ferox’, but any male, whether it’s Ilex aquifolium or Ilex altaclerensis should act as a pollinator. Plants should be clearly labelled male or female by the supplier.