How to Cut Back Holly to Six Inches From the Ground

Rejuvenate hollies by pruning them back hard.

Holly bushes come in many varieties but all are evergreens that keep their foliage year-round. The leaves are various shades of green and some have sharp points at the ends. Holly bushes also produce characteristic red berries in the fall and winter, which provide food for wildlife and create landscape interest. As hollies age, they develop sparse areas and grow quite large. To rejuvenate the bushes, cut them back to approximately 6 inches above the ground in late summer, fall or winter.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Knife or gardening tape
• Pruning shears or loppers
• Rake
• Long-sleeve shirt and pants
• Garden gloves

Instructions

1. Place a tape measure or ruler on the ground at the base of the holly and measure up 6 inches. Mark the location using a piece of gardening tape or by cutting a score mark in the bark with a knife.

2. Open the shears or loppers and place them around the marked stem to cut it off and squeeze to make a cut. Repeat the process to cut all of the remaining holly stems back to the same height. The final result is that most of the foliage is gone and the shrub looks like vertical sticks.

3. Rake up the holly clippings around the base of the shrub and compost them or use them for decorating inside the home.

Tips & Warnings

• The holly bush will reproduce new foliage in the spring months.

• Put on long pants and a long-sleeve shirt to protect your skin from hollies that have sharp points. In addition to protective clothing, wear garden gloves.

• Use a pair of pruning shears if the holly stems are 1/2 inch in diameter or less. Otherwise, use a pair of loppers for punning.

• Never cut the holly bush back by more than three-fourths of its total height. If the holly is large and three-fourths of its height is higher than 6 inches, cut it at that location the first year and then back to 6 inches the following year, if desired.

References

• Fine Gardening; Evergreen Hollies; Andrew Bunting
• Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service; Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs; Michael Dana et. al.; April 2001