RE: Ilex opaca

Thanks Chris,
Cutting back some makes sense. And I wouldn't be moving it too far - it
would still benefit from the protections it has enjoyed over the years,
I just want both it and the spruce to have more room. On its other side
was a Redbud I cut down last year, so there is more room for it if I
just shift it west. Cutting it back yields cuttings and just maybe I
could make more.


--
Kitty 
neIN, Zone5

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> FYI- 
> 
> Not Marge, but my Ilex x meserveae all grow in mostly to full shade. Mine 
> are 20 years old. I never pruned them much until a few years ago. They 
> were getting way too tall and broad for me to handle, so I had a helper that 
> I hired for a day cut them way back (at least 1/3). They never sowed any 
> sign of stress. Some of mine receive some sun in late afternoon and are on 
> the NW side of the house and garage, so they are somewhat protected. 
> 
> I don't know about moving a nice specimen, but I might cut it back some 
> first. 
> 
> Chris 
> Long Island, NY 
> Zone 7a (Average min temp 50 - 00) 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf 
> Of kmrsy@comcast.net 
> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 10:01 AM 
> To: gardenchat@hort.net 
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Ilex opaca 
> 
> Marge wrote > I have 3 of those growing in too much shade < 
> 
> OK - now a new question. I have a Ilex x meserveae 'Blue Girl" that I 
> planted as a little shrubling next to a little 2 foot Blue Spruce about 
> 15 years ago. Behind it to the south is a chain link fence on the other side 
> of which a Neighbor has a huge Thuja. The poor thing is almost buried in 
> there, but has thrived and is an outstanding example IMO. It has prevented 
> BS growth where they meet but as the BS gets bigger toward the front, I am 
> seeing less and less of the holly. Might be nice to move it. 
> 
> 
> But 15 years is a long time. Do you think it could be moved safely? What 
> about taking cuttings first? Do Ilex take well from cuttings? - soft or 
> hard? when? 
> 
> 
> Thinking more about the exposure problems mentioned....This hidden one has 
> thrived while the other two haven't. One is on the other side of the spruce 
> and also getting crowded, but is up against other problems. The one that was 
> set further to the north in a triangle of the 3 never did well at all - I 
> think that was the Blue Boy. It was by itself and had full sun and wind 
> exposure. I yanked it a few years ago. I wonder if I'd just kill the good 
> one by moving it. 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Kitty 
> neIN, Zone5 
> 
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> 
> > Well, Chris, I think the wind off the ocean is a bit different from 
> > the wind howling across flat prairie in z5, tho' yours may contain 
> > salt, which poses a totally different set of challenges for plant 
> > life. Growing any broad leaf evergreen in an open field is much 
> > different than having other trees/plants around it breaking the wind. 
> > 
> > 
> > From what I've read, growers (who tend to grow in open fields) find a 
> > certain amount of die back on all the broad leaf hollies every year - 
> > I'm talking about growers in this area and north - they just prune 
> > them and don't worry about it. But the really bad winter we had was 
> > just too much for Nellie. Now, I have 3 of those growing in too much 
> > shade on the west border but protected by huge oaks and some Leyland 
> > cypress on their north and west...they came through that same winter 
> > just fine. 
> > 
> > So, I agree, siting is important with all broad leaf evergreens IMO 
> > and critically when you get them in an environment where they may not 
> > occur naturally. I find it important where I am. Even tho' I live in 
> > the woods, I lost some broad leaf plants when I first planted 30 years 
> > ago because the wind whipped around the west side of the house so 
> > fiercely - before I got some large yews to break it. I still see 
> > winter burn on plants in places I don't expect it to happen; where I 
> > would have thought they had ample protection from wind...just goes to 
> > show..... 
> > 
> > Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland 
> > mtalt@hort.net 
> > Editor: Gardening in Shade 
> > Shadyside Garden Designs 
> > ----------------------------------------------- 
> > Current Article: Plant Exchange 
> > http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening 
> > ------------------------------------------------ 
> > Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date 
> > http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html 
> > 
> > 
> > ---------- 
> > > From: Chris@widom-assoc.com 
> > > 
> > > I don't know about the wind factor, Marge. Being on the water 
> > qualifies me 
> > > for gardening with wind everyday. My hollies are grown with the 
> > protection 
> > > of other plants in the landscape, but nothing else. We have zone 6 
> > on LI, 
> > > too and I see all types of hollies in our landscapes and 
> > arboretums. I 
> > > guess growing them in an open field such as in a nursery would 
> > distress them 
> > > more. Maybe siting is an important factor. 
> > > 
> > > Chris 
> > > Long Island, NY 
> > > Zone 7a (Average min temp 50 - 00) 
> > 
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> > To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the 
> > message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the message 
> text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the 
> message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE GARDENCHAT
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index