English holly

English holly plants should be watered deeply once or twice a week, depending on the season and the weather. During the summer months when temperatures are higher, they need more frequent watering, usually around every 3-5 days. In the winter months when temperatures are cooler and wetter, they should only be watered about once a week. When watering, the soil should be moistened with about 1 inch of water. The soil should be checked periodically to make sure it's not completely dry. Overwatering should be avoided, as overwatering can cause root rot.

English holly needs full sunlight in order to thrive. As it grows best in areas with mild temperatures, partial shade may be beneficial during times of extreme heat or cold. Generally, English holly plants should be exposed to direct sunlight for 6 to 8 hours per day, with some indirect sunlight in the remaining hours being ideal. When planting outdoors, it's important to choose a location with plenty of bright light so that the holly can benefit from long hours of direct sunlight. An area that will receive morning sunlight is better than 1 with only afternoon sunlight.

English holly should be pruned once a year in the late spring or early summer, right after the tree has finished flowering. Prune back new shoots to maintain a consistent shape or size and remove any remaining dead or dying branches. To best maintain the desired shape of the tree, make sure to prune branches that cross over 1 another to prevent rubbing and loss of leaves. Some things to avoid when pruning an English holly include removing too much of the foliage, pruning back more than 1/3 of the foliage at a time, as well as pruning back into old wood.