Holly Shrub

This appears to be Holly, a shrub who’s pointy leaves and structural shape can be attractive all year long. There are many varieties of this plant. The best location for planting holly bushes is in well-drained but not dry, slightly acidic soil in full sun. Most holly varieties are very tolerant of less than ideal locations and will grow well in part shade or dry or swampy soil. If you are growing a traditional holly bush for its bright berries, you need to keep in mind that most holly varieties have male and female plants and that only the female holly shrub produces berries. This means that in the location where you would like to plant a holly bush with berries, you will need to plant a female variety and you will also need to make sure that a male variety is planted nearby. There are modern holly varieties that do not need a male plant in order to produce holly berries. Definitely research before purchasing in order to find the variety that will work best for you. Special note* – Holly berries are poisonous to pets and humans.

The care of holly bushes after they are established is easy. Fertilize your holly bushes once a year with a balanced fertilizer. They do not need to be watered in normal conditions, but if your area is experiencing a drought, you should give your holly bushes at least 2 inches of water per week. When growing a holly bush, it also helps to mulch around the base of the holly shrub to help retain water in the summer and to even out the soil temperature in the winter.
Proper care for holly shrubs also calls for regular pruning. Pruning your holly bushes will ensure that they keep a nice compact form rather than becoming leggy and scraggly. If you find that your holly shrubs are being damaged in the winter by snow and wind, you can wrap the holly shrubs in burlap to protect them from the weather.

The initial care of holly bushes after they are planted is much like other trees and shrubs. Make sure that your newly planted holly bush is watered daily for the first week, twice a week for a month after that and, if planting in spring, once a week for the remained of summer.
Growing Holly Bushes