Saturday, September 15, 2007 1:19 AM CDT
Use easy-to-care-for hollies as landscape plants this fall
By JON COLLINS, Yard and Garden Writer
With the anticipated return of cool weather and the prospect of some moisture, I purchased and planted three holly plants last weekend. Once the planting spade found its way into my hands, I just couldn’t seem to put it down. I had to continue digging in the soil.
Now that the new plants were safely in the ground, attention was diverted to those plants that weren’t quite in the right place.
If you don’t know by now, the avid gardener’s rule book states that “the perfect garden can only be accomplished by the continual digging and resetting of established plants.” It seems that “that perfect spot” is usually just 6 to 12 inches from its current location.
So first, I moved one of the yews that the birds had so thoughtfully planted several years ago. The now-18-inch-tall shrub was relocated about that same distance from its current location so that it is out from underneath the roof overhang. Of course, the yew replanted resulted in the repositioning of two hostas.
Then there were two additional hostas that needed some tweaking to create a space for an out-of-place Japanese anemone that will be moved in as soon as it is done flowering. A lone variegated lily turf (Liriope muscari variegata) was reunited with some of its relatives.
The silver archangel (Lamiastrum “Herman’s Pride”) being overrun by the wild ginger under the tree house was dug, divided and reset beyond the ginger, and the leftover divisions moved across the yard to a nice home beside a cluster of northern sea oats.
The lily turf (Liriope spicata) along the fence that I had been mowing off all summer was dug and repositioned in a bare area under a Norway spruce. And finally, from the lawn, I dug volunteer lambs ear (Stachys byzantina) and escaped bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) to fill in some vacant areas under one of the bird feeders and around the bird bath.
Yes, the arrival of fall gives us another opportunity to divide and move plants around and also to add plants to our landscapes.
Most perennials can now be dug, divided and transplanted successfully. This also holds true for planting many shrubs and trees.
So while you contemplate what you might rearrange in or add to your garden, consider my choice — hollies.
Hollies, with their waxy, evergreen leaves and bright red berries, are reminders of the winter holiday season. The story of holly is a quite old and diverse one.
The ancient Greeks considered holly a symbol of foresight. Ancient Romans used it to represent goodwill and friendship. They sent holly branches, along with other gifts, to friends during the annual festival honoring Saturn.
To native Americans the spiny, evergreen leaves traditionally represented fierceness, courage and eternal life. To Christians it has come to symbolize everlasting life.
The use of hollies as landscape plants also has ancient roots. Early Europeans believed spiny plants, including holly, could deter evil spirits. Roman scholar Pliny the Elder recommended planting hollies near homes to keep away evil spirits, ward off enchantments, and protect the house from lightning.
To my knowledge, I was never bothered with evil spirits, enhancements or lightning before I planted the holly so maybe the best I can hope for is that the berries, a good winter food source for wildlife, will attract a few more birds to my backyard.
The Chicago Botanical Garden publishes a list of the best plants for Illinois gardens. The list, “Illinois’ Best Plants,” contains the following hollies — American Holly (Ilex opaca “Miss Helen”); English holly (Ilex aquifolium with cultivars “Aureo-marginata,” “Balkans” and “Monier”); Japanese holly (Ilex crenata with cultivars “Beehive,” “Convexa,” “Glory” and “Highlander”); blue holly (Ilex x meserveae with cultivars China Boy, Golden girl, China Girl, Blue Stallion and Blue Maid).
I chose the blue hollies because they have good cold hardiness and heat tolerance and they are readily available in our area. I planted two China Girl and one China boy.
Why the two varieties? Hollies are dioecious. That means that the male and female flowers are located on separate plants. If you want female plants to produce berries you must have a male plant within a few hundred feet of the female. Since the male doesn’t produce berries, only one male is usually planted for every five or six female plants.
As a general rule, hollies grow best in well-drained, moderately fertile soil that is slightly acid or neutral. For best performance, they require protection from winter sun and wind, as well as a site where cold air does not settle.
A good site is often the north side of a building or near tall evergreens. Here the plants are sheltered from the low winter sun yet can receive light from the summer sun, which will produce the most compact and vigorous plants.
Holly maintenance needs are few. They typically display no disease or insect problems. They can benefit from an annual trimming. This will help enhance their shape and thicken grow. Trimming can be done any time of the year except late summer or early fall.
However, the best time is when the plant is dormant, which means that those branches taken for Christmas greens are also helping shape the plant at just the right time to trim it.
If, like me, you need to fill a few vacant spots in your own border beds, check out the Master Gardener plant sale on Wednesday at the Farmers Market on the north side of the Square in Charleston.
Master Gardeners will be selling plants starting at 7 a.m. and continuing until the plants are gone. Some of the plants available will include perennial plants such as iris, daisy, hosta and daylilies. There also will be a few house plants and some pumpkins available.
All plants come from individual Master Gardener gardens or from the MG Idea Garden. The plants will go fast so come early to choose from the widest selection.
The Extension Master Gardeners are now in the office three days a week: Monday from 2 to 4 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 9 to 11 a.m.
This column is based on information and materials available at the University of Illinois Extension office, located at 707 Windsor Road, Suite A., Charleston, 61920; phone 345-7034; e-mail coles_co@extension.uiuc.edu. More information can also be found at http://coles.extension.uiuc.edu/. If you have any questions about yard, garden or indoor plant care, write, stop by or call the Coles County Extension office.
Jon Collins is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener and retired superintendent of grounds at Eastern Illinois University.
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