Will my holly bush give red berries? It is a Ilex aquifoilum and this is a new bush. I also have an old bush which looks like it has flowers but it never gives berries.
In order to get berries on your bush, you'll need to have both male and female shrubs. These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-bush-no-berries.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-a-male-and-female-holly-bush.htm
I have tried for last two years in spring to propagate holly through cuttings dipped in rooting hormone. My holly is both male and female and there are berries.
This article will give you some more pointers: https://extension.missouri.edu/p/g6970
My 5 year old holly trees are full of green berries. Is there some fertilizer or something that will help these turn red by Christmas? This is the very first time they have had so many berries.
They will turn red on their own and there is nothing you can do to speed up the process. If you find that they do not turn red at all, you may have holly berry midge, which burrows into the berries and prevents them from turning red. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/holly-berry-midge-pests.htm
Right now I have a male and female holly bushes that are yellow. I just bought a red holly bush and want to plant with the yellow. Will the yellow male produce with the red female or do they need to be with another red bush?
It is unlikely, but not impossible that they might pollinate. It really depends on what varieties they are and the strains.
I have 3 Holly bushes in my front yard. For the past 2 years I have planted Mums near them. The Mums have died by the holly bushes, but have thrived in other places of the front yard. Are the Holly bushes killing my Mums?
If you're thinking of the way some plants, like black walnut, are known to "poison" the area around them to inhibit the growth of other plants, the answer is no. Hollies are not known to be allelopathic; in addition, mums are known to be resistant to such chemicals. However, it is highly likely that the roots of the hollies are "sucking up" all the water, causing the mums to fail. This article has more information on this interesting phenomenon: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/allelopathic-plants.htm
What is required to winterize a holly bush in Minnesota, Zone 4?
Generally, these are hardy plants, requiring little, if any, winter care. However, in extreme situations, the shrubs can be wrapped. Here is an article on growing holly shrubs that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/growing-holly-bushes.htm
I have inherited an area of land that has not been cultivated for many years - 25+. It contains a number of holly trees. I say trees because they may well have initially been single stems that have just been allowed to grow naturally without pruning. Some we have removed but I would like to prune and retain some, but they're 12 ft or more high with 9'' circumference and branches trailing 3-4 feet from the trunk. They're heavy with berries at the moment. My question is - how do we prune to enhance growth and provide some shape?
Any pruning will encourage bushiness, and shaping is just a matter of pruning until the shape of the plant is pleasing. This article will help you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/trimming-holly-bushes-how-to-prune-holly-bushes.htm