If you have a holly tree in your garden, lucky you its one of my favourite trees for the vibrant, almost other-worldly, green of its leaves, because of the protection it offers to nesting birds, and for its evergreen nature, which means you can enjoy a holly all year round.
And, if youre looking to plant a new tree in your garden, whether front or back, the holly would be a wonderful addition for its hardiness and its appearance.
In your garden The holly may be most memorable for the Christmas song its best known for and the prickly leaves that protect it, but theres so much more to know about this wonderful tree that could bring new life to a dull garden.
For starters, did you know that the holly can live for up to four human lifetimes thats around 300 years. And mature trees can grow up to 15m in height thats approximately three and a half double decker buses. So if youre looking for a tree that will eventually give you privacy from your neighbours then look no further, but if that seems a little too large then the holly can always be kept at a more manageable height by good pruning.
Looking after your holly means looking after the homes of the many creatures that nest, burrow or crawl there. In spring, the black-edged, bright-blue Holly Blue butterfly will be seen flitting from leaf to leaf. It lays eggs on the tree and later in the spring its caterpillars will gorge themselves on its leaves. Many small birds will build their nests in a holly tree for the protection its dense, pointy leaves afford them all year round, and the all-you-can-eat buffet of red berries that ripen in the wintertime.
While pollination of holly trees is done by insects, new trees can sprout up without notice from the seeds that pass through the guts of the many birds that make a meal of them throughout the winter months.
Threats your holly may face The holly is vulnerable to leaf mining insects and many trees have at least some leaves infested with them. They turn the leaves from gorgeous, shiny, dark green to a patchy lighter green or even brown as the fly larvae feeds inside the leaves. Thankfully, though unsightly, the holly leaf miner does not do any harm to the tree itself.
If allowed to, the holly can grow out of control, placing areas of a garden into shadow, and impacting on what can survive there. This is why its so important to prune and shape your holly tree, usually in late September, though careful pruning can take place any time the tree is not in bloom or covered in berries.
If you would like to talk to an expert about the good health of your holly trees, or to discuss the best time of year or location for planting your new holly tree, call us on 0208 292 8992. Were always happy to pop round or to help.
Good for you if you have a holly tree in your yard! Holly is one of my favorite trees because of its vivid, almost otherworldly green leaves, the cover it provides for birds that nest there, and the fact that it is evergreen, so you can enjoy it all year round.
To begin with, did you know that holly can live up to four human lifetimes? That’s roughly three hundred years. Furthermore, mature trees can reach a height of 15 meters, or roughly three and a half double decker buses. Thus, if you’re searching for a tree that will eventually provide you with seclusion from your neighbors, you need look no farther. However, if that seems a little too big, good pruning can always keep the holly at a more manageable height.
Looking after your holly means looking after the homes of the many creatures that nest, burrow or crawl there. In spring, the black-edged, bright-blue Holly Blue butterfly will be seen flitting from leaf to leaf. It lays eggs on the tree and later in the spring its caterpillars will gorge themselves on its leaves. Many small birds will build their nests in a holly tree for the protection its dense, pointy leaves afford them all year round, and the all-you-can-eat buffet of red berries that ripen in the wintertime.
The holly in your garden may be most remembered for the popular Christmas song it is associated with and its protective prickly leaves, but there is so much more to learn about this amazing tree that has the power to breathe new life into an old, boring garden.
If given the chance, holly can spread out of control, casting shadows over portions of a garden and affecting what can live there. This is the reason it’s crucial to shape and prune your holly tree. This is usually done in late September, but you can do it at any time the tree isn’t in flower or covered in berries.
The Holly Berry Bonanza ends at this point, but hollies remain until late November, when most berries disappear. Additionally, that will signal the dramatic decrease in robins and waxwings in our yard.
Native berries are also the fattiest; they usually have between 20 and 50 percent fat. Birds require fat, but we health-conscious humans try to avoid high-fat foods. In actuality, birds require a higher fat intake to stay warm in colder climates.
Top native berry producers in our area, according to Cornells YardMap Network, are rough-leaf dogwood, black raspberry, chokecherry, common elderberry, and common serviceberry. The National Wildlife Federation also includes viburnums (many native plants that survive into the winter), American beautyberry (a hardy shrub with lavender berries), hackberry (about 50 bird species are attracted to its tiny berries), sumac (a true winter emergency food for many birds), and hawthorn (excellent for forming thickets).
According to Cornell University’s website, most adult humans would need to eat at least 220 pints of blueberries per day, based on body weight, in order to consume the same amount of berries as do birds. So, how many berries can a single bird eat? That effectively dispels the myth that you should eat like a bird.
For birds, berry-producing plants really offer a win-win-win situation. Firstly, plants must bloom in order to bear fruit; this nectar attracts pollinators, such as certain birds. Our holly trees literally hum with tiny bees in the springtime when they are in bloom.
FAQ
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