English Holly Care
Ilex aquifolium
An evergreen small tree famous for its red fruits in winter. For fruit set, a male plant must be planted near the female plants (dioecious). In Izmir it needs partial shade and moist, acidic soils; in alkaline soil its leaves turn yellow.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
- Pruning: Fruiting branches can be cut for decoration.
- Plant protection: Applying dormant oil (mineral oil) against scale insects can be considered.
- Pests & diseases: Check for scale insects on branches. No frost protection is needed.
- Pruning: Before new growth begins is the best time to prune to shape, control size or form a hedge.
- General care: Clear weeds.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, 7-10 L/plant every 2 weeks.
- Fertilizing: Apply acidifying plant fertilizer (azalea/hydrangea fertilizer) or compost; do not overapply.
- Plant protection: Check the new shoots for aphids.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
- General care: It produces small white flowers. Active bees for pollination are important for fruit set.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
- Plant protection: Check for leaf miners.
- General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
- Pests & diseases: Tunnel trails on the leaves are a sign of leaf miners; pick off the affected leaves.
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Pruning: Do shaping and hedge pruning.
- Pests & diseases: In hot and dry weather, check for spider mites.
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Plant protection: The risk of spider mites continues.
- General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
- Pests & diseases: Watch for signs of leaf scorch and water stress (shriveling, leaf drop).
- Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- General care: The fruits begin to form but are still green.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
- Pruning: Do the last formative pruning of the season; do not let it put out new shoots before frost.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
- General care: The fruits begin to turn red.
- Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
- General care: The fruits reach their full color.
- Pruning: You can cut fruiting branches for decoration.
- General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.
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