American holly

American Holly (Ilex opaca 'Canary') plants should be watered regularly with approximately 1 inch of water weekly during spring and summer when rainfall is low. Soil should be kept evenly moist but not soggy. In winter, reduce water when temperatures are below 50 degrees, as this tree does not like wet roots during cold weather. Furthermore, a 3-4 inch layer of mulch should be applied around the root area to keep the soil moist and conserve water in between waterings.

American holly (Ilex opaca 'Canary') likes to grow in areas with full sun during the morning hours and partial shade during the afternoon hours. This plant is able to tolerate some shade as well. During the summer, it is best to give the American holly 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight during the day. Additionally, during the winter it can tolerate 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight. For maximum growth and health, make sure that the American holly is given adequate sunlight throughout the year.

American holly is an evergreen shrub that typically needs minimal pruning. Generally, the only pruning necessary is to remove mis-shaped, damaged, or dead branches. Pruning should occur annually in the late winter when the plant is dormant. It is preferable to prune outward-growing branches rather than inward-growing ones, so as not to leave bare patches on the plant. If pruning is done to shape the plant goal, then light pruning for shaping should be done in early spring, before the new growth begins to emerge. Hard pruning of American holly should not be done, as this can cause damage to the plant and result in dieback and stunted growth.