holly

Holly (Ilex opaca 'Waysides Christmas Tree') should be watered on a regular basis, with the frequency varying depending on the season. In cooler months, holly should be watered once a month, providing about 0.5 inches of water per session. In the warmer months, it should be watered slightly more frequently, about once every 2 weeks. In periods of extreme heat or drought, holly should be watered up to twice a week - capping out at no more than 1 inch of water per session. Generally, soil should feel moist to the touch when water is adequate and dry when it needs some. As with most plants, it is important to never overwater holly.

Holly (Ilex opaca 'Waysides Christmas Tree') should receive full sunlight for at least 6 hours each day in order to thrive. Direct sunlight is best, as indirect sunlight can sometimes be too weak to provide the optimal level of light, warmth and energy that the holly needs to survive. If direct sunlight is not present, then the holly should be placed in an area which gets bright light from nearby reflective surfaces like walls and fences in order to maximize the amount of light it receives. The optimal time to provide sunlight is between 10am and 4pm when the sun is at its strongest. During these hours, the sunlight will be bright and direct, providing the holly with an ample amount of warmth and energy to enable it to flourish. Providing too much sunlight during the height of the day may be damaging, so the holly should be shaded during these periods.

Holly (Ilex opaca 'Waysides Christmas Tree') should be pruned in late winter or early spring. This is the best time to prune holly as the plant is dormant and won't suffer from much damage from the pruning. Pruning holly should be limited to removing any broken, dead, or diseased branches, as well as any weak or crowded branches. Additionally, holly can be lightly sheared to help promote a denser, more conical shape, but take care to not over prune as this can cause severe damage to the plant.