American holly

American holly (Ilex opaca 'Delia Bradley') should be watered once a week, applying about 1-2 inches of water. During moderate temperatures, water enough to saturate the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches every 7-14 days. During summer months, water every 7-10 days. During winter months when plants are dormant, withhold watering to every 10-14 days. A good way to determine if it needs water is to touch the soil near the roots -- it should be moist but not soggy.

American holly (Ilex opaca 'Delia Bradley') does best in full sun or partial shade, but will tolerate full shade. Depending on the season and geographical location, the plant requires about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. In northern climates, it is recommended to provide as much direct sun as possible in the spring and summer months when the days are longer. In southern climates, the plant prefers some shade during the summer months to reduce its exposure to intensely hot afternoons. Autumn and winter months provide a more even, soft light that is beneficial to American holly, so you should provide it with the same amount of sunlight throughout the year.

American holly (Ilex opaca 'Delia Bradley') should be pruned lightly in late autumn or early winter, when it is dormant. Pruning should be done to maintain the desired size and shape of the shrub, remove dead branches and encourage new growth. When pruning, no more than 1-third of the live growth should be removed. Always make the cut just above an outward-facing bud to encourage outward and upward growth. However, American holly does not require frequent pruning and is quite resilient to occasional over pruning.