Pruning Holly

I have a holly bush on the east side of my Milwaukee house. I have lived here for 11 years and in that time it has grown very large and is now starting to look sprawling and the inside is looking woody. Can I cut this plant back?

Yes. Most people have trouble keeping hollies alive in our harsh climate so pruning is not much of an issue. Plus hollies generally need very little pruning. Rejuvenate your plant in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove a few of the older bare stems back to ground level or where they attach to the main stem. This will open up the shrub and encourage new growth at the base of the plant. Repeat this for several years until the plant is fully leafed and looking good.

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Growing American Holly (Ilex opaca)