A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 Pruning holly

I have a couple holly bushes that are very nice but too large for the area. I'd like to trim them back about a third. Would that hurt them? I've done this with other bushes and even though they look woody after trimming they fill in nicely the next spring. I've never done it with holly, though.

HI BJ Winter and spring are the best times to prune Holly. Lots of people trim their holly around Christmas time and use the cuttings in holiday arrangements.Others don't prune until spring.
that's when holly will start putting on new growth.do not prune in the summer or fall as this might damage the plant due to the heat of summer if you do it in the fall it will be baron for a longer period of time till new growth starts.hope this helps.your friend in gardening.mike57