Moving Holly

[minskey]

Hi Peeps, not sure if this is the corrrect section [sorry mods if it's not]

I have a holly bush which is abot 4ft tall, it has been in its current position for 4 'ish years. In that very hot summer a couple of years ago [can't remember when that was exactly] it dropped a lot of its leaves, they grew back but mostly on the begining and ands of the branches.

I'd like to know;

1- I'd like to dig it up and move it to a more sheltered position, is it the right time of year to do so?

2 - Would it recover if I cut it back by around 1/3 of its hight when I do move it?

Ta, Minskey

[nick the grief]

it is the right time to move it but not while it's this cold and it will have made a lot of root in 4 years and I'm not sure it would stand a move. You could try taking some hardwood cuttings but I think it would be easier to buy/acquire a new one and plant in the new location while you try.

I may well recover given a bit more time.

[Nicos]

I may well recover given a bit more time.

Oh - I do hope so!!!!

As for moving the holly- I'd take a huge rootball if you can when you move it- better off doing it when it warms up a bit as NTG says!

Can't you just mulch it and see how/if it recovers in the Spring/summer???

[RedThorn]

I've not had much luck with moving Holly bushes, but think if you do it before spring arrives with as big a rootball as possible as mentioned, you stand your best chance.

As to trimming Mine recover rather nicely from a trim, but to move and trim, I don't know

[Flummery]

Moving it will be difficult - it will be heavy if you are going to get a big enough ball of soil with the roots. I'd go for cutting it hard back. You can do that now. My leggy variegated holly was rejuvenated when I thought, what the heck, and cut lots of it for decoration last year. It has come again in the last 12 months and become good and shrubby. That would be my way forward. Cutting out the endy bits will encourage shoots from the bare stems.

Best of luck with it!

[sweetiepea]

I'd be reluctant to move it, but I have cut several (that had grown wild for years) right back - with great results.

[minskey]

Weeeeeeeeeeell; I don't really know

Whatever I do I'l have to wait about two weeks, according to a 'weather blog' that's how long this cold weather is going to last and it'll get worse before it gets better!

I may just clean all around the base of weeds etc, give it a feed & mulch and cut it back. I'll keep you all posted when it happens.

Thank you for all you help