Holly Tree

Oh Hywel, how did you have the courage to do that? Thank goodness it was successful. I've loved that since the first time you showed it.

It's a shrub. They always recover from a good haircut. I do the same to my Bays sometimes, and I've done it to a Lonicera and Akebia too :)

I've often thought I'd like to do a standard Lonicera. I have two very very small Euonymus I'm hoping to do it with but they are only about six inches high at present...
My Bay got damaged years ago so its a bush now and it badly needs repotting.

Wel, it was harsh but worked as its really compact, now!

How brave Hywel - I have a holly tree and I am very attached to it - it is varigated and is loaded with berries for the autumn - Jane

It frightened me when I saw what you had done Hywel ,but its turned out well it looks good !

Thank you all ...

You can usually cut shrubs back drastically and they'll regrow nicely.
It even does them good to have a hard prune sometimes.
You will loose the flowers and berries for one season, but they will flower and fruit much better in subsequent years, and also look tidier.

This may not be true for all shrubs, but it is for the ones I know :)

You inspired me Hywel to go out and tidy a holly tree that I was considering cutting down. It was a bit weedy. So I pruned it today ......not too hard at this time of year but a nice hair cut. :0) it is true......they are very hardy pushing up root suckers everywhere.

This is a great blog Hywel. I love the changes in your garden through the seasons. I have a holly which is growing bigger than I would want. I can't bring myself to cut back on the loaded branches full of berries but as soon as the birds strip the ripe fruit I will give mine a good haircut. The new leaves on yours are a glorious colour. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Ok, you get the crown for pruner of the year lol. When I was hacking away at my front garden and worried that was going bit mad at it you had reassured me that you did the same but I don't think I would be as brave. It look great for its hair cut.

That's growing back great Hywel.