American Holly Tree for Sale Online

The pride of the native hollies. Ilex opaca or American Holly is a very deer resistant holly tree has been overshadowed in recent years by more advertised cultivars, although the popularity of the plant remains strong. This naturally pyramidal evergreen tree keeps its vibrant red berries through the winter. This Native Holly, not only provides winter interest, and adapts to many different soil types but they are used by many songbirds as cover during the winter months when other trees are bare..

Using American Holly Trees as a Privacy Screen

The ever popular American Holly Trees are winter hardy to Zone 6. It is a naturally pyramidal tree, which can reach up to 20 feet tall and up to 15 feet wide at the base which makes it great for use as a tall screen. Give American Holly trees plenty of room, to allow for symmetry of growth. It grows well in a variety of soils, but does prefer good drainage. The American Holly tree is useful if you need to create privacy for your home. It’s a medium growing tree growing around 1 to 2 feet per year where its happy. We recommend planting American Holly Trees in a line with about 5 feet apart from each other to create quick privacy, however they can be planted at 10 to 12 foot intervals if you don’t mind waiting a bit for privacy. When planting alone the tree takes on a pyramidal shape and can be grown as a specimen tree to break sight-lines. Double row plantings of American Holly Tree are a great way to not only create privacy but to reduce noise from a busy roadway adjacent to your property for example. American Holly trees also make a wonderful backdrop for planting beds. The pleasing dark color makes flowering plants really standout especially in the winter when it has its bright red berries.

Using American Holly Trees as a Formal Hedge

American Holly Trees are widely used as a quick growing formal hedge. Plant 4 to 8 feet apart, depending upon your desired results. Trim when needed but we do suggest waiting until after the initial flush of soft spring growth however it can be pruned in late winter before the onset of new growth. If it is pruned every year, American Holly Treeswill create a fdense dark-green screen or box-shaped hedge, similar to a Yew Hedge. American Holly can be kept to any height as long as you trim it once or twice a year.

Use American Holly Tree to hide Utility Meters

American Holly Trees can also be planted in clusters in corners of the garden or to hide smaller permanent fixtures in the garden such as well caps or utility boxes. Clusters can be used at the ends of shrub borders or even in the middle to bring symmetry or vertical elements into the garden. Shrub borders tend to be a uniform in height but by adding clusters of larger evergreen trees you bring variations in height to the garden.

Soil Types for American Holly Trees

American Holly trees grow well in a wide range of soils, ranging from all sand to pure red clay. When planting in very sandy soils adding organic matter is always recommended to improve the soils ability to hold water and nutrients. When planting in hard clay soils, its best to dig the hole several feet wider than the root system and fill with soft loam soil to give the young American Holly tree a faster, more aggressive root system. American Holly prefer well drained soils but will tolerate wet soils for short periods of time. American Holly Tree should never be planted in soils that are excessively wet for long periods of time. Since American Holly have a relativley shallow root system, weeds and grass growing around the tree will cause the tree to grow much slower until established. Mulching will improve your growth three fold. Mulch not only stops weeds and grass, it will hold soil moisture and maintain a lower more even soil temperature, stimulating more aggressive root growth.

How do I prune American Holly Trees?

Shearing of American Holly Trees is generally not needed however for a formal hedge start shearing when the tree reaches 3 or 4 feet in height, cutting only the sides, remove no more than 3 or 4 inches of growth. This will cause the tree to grow thicker. If you want the tree to grow tall don't cut the top leader, just shape the sides. The best time to shear is after a new growth spurt finishes and the new growth begins to mature. Growth will go from a smooth, greasy texture, to a rougher snake skin look. Shearing twice a year is sufficient but only if needed. To keep your trees at a particular height requires cutting the central leader and then shearing all outside branches. This will control the tree for many years, but in time the tree will become too large to maintain. Pruning can help make American Holly more bushy.  It is recommended that you disinfect your shears before you begin and even after each plant to prevent disease spread.  You can prune dead or diseased limbs anytime of the year. To encourage thick bushy trees simply trim back the limbs that have outstretched the rest of the tree.

How long do American Holly trees live?

If planted in the right conditions and decently cared for American Holly Trees can live up to 100 years or longer.

History and Folklore of the American Holly Tree

The American Holly Tree wood has been used to make furniture, canes and scroll work throughout history. The wood has also been stained black and substituted for ebony in inlay work. American Holly wood is ideal for taking dyes, and is used for much of the black and white inlaid lines in musical instruments and furniture. It is also used for knife handles and black piano keys. American holly is the state tree of Delaware. A great deal of superstition once surrounded holly trees. It was believed that planting hollies near buildings would provide protection from witchcraft and lightning. It was also believed that the flowers of holly could be used to turn water to ice.

Follow these guidelines for the best results.