Berryific Holly

Holly shrubs are either male or female and need one of both plants in order for pollination and berries to form. Berryific Holly is a specially grafted plant where both male and female branches are on the same shrub. Now even the smallest gardens can have this festive red and green shrub. The height of Berryific Holly makes it a great backdrop for the garden border. Deep green evergreen leaves provide year round structure and interest when herbaceous perennials and deciduous shrubs are hibernating for the winter. Holly has very prickly leaves that make it very deer and rabbit resistant. Few diseases or pests bother Holly. Berryific Holly Care Berryific Holly will thrive in a full sun location. Well drained and moist soil will help form nice juicy berries. A light sol texture and acidic pH is also preferred. Mulching with organic compost or leaves in the fall will help to protect the shrub's roots and improve the soil texture. Soils become more moisture-retentive over time. Holly likes to be fertilized early in the spring with a slow release food made for acid-loving plants. Pruning out any dead, dying , diseased or diagonal branches early in the spring will help this evergreen keep a tidy shape. To keep Holly from sprouting from seeds, clean up as many of the fallen berries as possible early in the winter. These berries need winter cold to help them germinate. Pulling out seedlings as small as possible is also an easy way to keep Holly from spreading. Berryific Holly Spacing Berryific Holly is in the category of large shrub and best planted singly as a specimen. Using Holly as an informal hedge works great at property boundaries or along existing fence lines. Mature Berryific Holly has a height of 10-12 feet with width of 6-8 feet. Spacing shrubs at 8 feet on center will allow enough room between shrubs.