Can Fosters Holly Growth Be Inhibited?

Question

I asked my lawn care service company to trim my shrubs and they lopped the top off of my one year old Fosters Holly. Is that going to be a problem?

Answer 1

It will come back with a vengeance. Holly's are incredibly hardy, and will respond to pruning by doubling in growth rate.

They did the right thing, as long as they did not go below the halfway point of the actual trunk.

Typically, these Holly's are grafted so the root will be a different type of Ilex. Keep any growth from the root zone pruned away. You only want growth from above the graft zone. This is usually visible as an add line all the way around the trunk about halfway up. Anything below that line needs to be taken off as it shows up.

Here is an article for more information on the care of the tree:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/holly/growing-holly-bushes.htm