Feed your Nellie Stevens Holly tree in early spring with a balanced slow release fertilizer or for soils that may need an acidic boost try Espoma Holly-Tone. Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch extending out a few inches farther than the root zone.

What fertilizer does Nellie Stevens holly use?

Fertilizer. Apply one to two inches of compost every spring and make sure it doesn’t extend past the drip line, which is an imaginary line where droplets fall from the outermost branches. In late fall, apply one cup of 10-5-5 fertilizer per plant.

How often should you fertilize holly?

This type of fertilization should be done three or four times per year, starting in April and ending by the mid-July. Soil can also be acidified with soil sulfur, aluminum sulfate or cotton seed meal, however, these products will not fertilize the plant. Mulch is also important to acid loving plants.

Can you use Miracle Grow on holly bushes?

Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Miracid® Acid-Loving Plant Food is great for use on Azaleas, Camellias, Gardenias, Hibiscus, Holly, Hydrangeas, Orchids, and many others.

How do you take care of Nellie Stevens holly?

How to Grow Nellie Stevens Holly. This holly is very adaptable to either full sun or partial shade locations. It is resistant to deer and rabbits and will develop drought tolerance with maturity. The tree even thrives in poor soil and doesn’t mind mild neglect, though plants prefer slightly acidic well-drained soil.

What should I feed my holly?

Feeding / Fertilizing your Holly Tree They like either a well-rotted manure, garden compost or a broadleaf evergreen fertiliser. To fertilise using manure or compost, simply spread it along the surface of the soil that covers the root zone, this will penetrate down to the roots over time.

When should I fertilize my holly bushes?

The optimum times for holly fertilization are spring and fall. Fertilize in spring just as the shrubs begin to put on new growth. Wait until growth stops for fall fertilization.

What kind of fertilizer is 10/10 10?

10-10-10 fertilizer is a synthetic, all-purpose fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, in that order. It’s easy to use and good for plants that need a lot of nitrogen, such as established perennials, leafy green crops, and turf grasses.

Do holly plants like coffee grounds?

Hollies. It is well known that holly plants love acidic soil. Sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of Holly Shrubs and Holly Trees for dense foliage growth and improved berry production.

How do I get more berries on my holly bush?

Make sure that your holly bushes are getting enough water. They should be getting 1-2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) of water a week. A late cold snap or frost can kill the flowers on the holly bushes that would have become berries later on.

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How often should holly be watered?

Water daily for the first week after you plant your holly bush, then twice a week afterward until they are established. After that, the bush should receive at least 2 inches of water per week. Fertilize once a year. Weed often, and prune regularly so that the holly doesn’t choke itself out.

Do holly bushes need lime?

Holly trees prefer an acid to neutral soil ranging from 5.0 to 7.0 on the pH scale. … To raise the pH (make more alkaline) you can add pelletized limestone to the soil. To lower the pH (make more acid) you can apply Soil Sulfur, Aluminum Sulfate, or Chelated Iron.

Can you top Nellie Stevens holly?

“Nellie Stevens” holly grows into a tall shrub with lower branches that droop to the ground. These lower branches are sometimes pruned for ease of access beneath the tree or to allow passage under the canopy. These branches can be pruned any time of the year.

Why is my holly dying?

Most diseases of holly can be attributed to fungus. The two most prevalent fungal holly tree diseases are tar spot and cankers. … Canker – Cankers, another holly tree disease, produce sunken areas on the stems, which eventually die out. Pruning out infected branches is usually necessary in order to save the plant.

How do you make holly grow faster?

Light: Holly plants to best in full sun. Soil: Well drained loamy soil that is slightly acidic. If your soil is very heavy, add some organic material to lighten the texture and improve drainage. Water: Hollies like a moderate amount of water, usually adequately provided by rainfall.

Do holly trees need a lot of water?

Holly trees do not need a lot of water. Usually, like stated earlier, the average climate has enough rain to keep the plant watered adequately. Once again, supplemental watering is only needed if it is dry for weeks on end or drought. … Holly trees prefer evenly damp soil with good drainage.

What compost is best for holly trees?

You can purchase bagged compost at gardening centers, but many gardeners report that a homemade mix is the best compost for holly trees (as well as for their other plants). The manure is fully decomposed livestock waste, often mixed with wood shavings or sawdust, the University of New Hampshire Extension says.

Are holly trees acid loving?

Some examples of popular acid loving shrubs commonly grown in landscapes are azaleas, rhododendrons, holly, butterfly bush, blue hydrangeas, camellias and heather. … These acid loving plants prefers a soil pH of 4 – 5.5 for optimum growth.

Can we use Epsom salt for all plants?

In addition, magnesium greatly improves a plant’s ability to produce flowers and fruit. If the soil becomes depleted of magnesium, adding Epsom salt will help; and since it poses little danger of overuse like most commercial fertilizers, you can use it safely on nearly all your garden plants.

Why do holly trees leaves turn yellow?

Iron deficiency and yellow holly leaves can be caused by many things. The most common reasons for this is either overwatering or poor drainage. … Hollies like soil that has a low pH, in other words, acidic soil. If the pH is too high, the holly plant cannot process the iron and then you get yellow holly leaves.

Can you add coffee grounds directly to soil?

It’s best to add coffee grounds, not whole beans, to compost. Coffee grounds have a high nitrogen content, along with a few other nutrients plants can use. … In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies.

What is triple 13 fertilizer used for?

The American Plant Food Corporation describes its pelletized 13-13-13 fertilizer as useful for gardens, flowers, shrubs, hedges, trees, new lawns and wildlife food plots. It recommends applying this fertilizer in the spring just before planting a garden.

What is Triple 8 fertilizer used for?

Triple-8 is designed to bring the carbon to nitrogen ratio into perfect balance. It regulates the nitrogen to carbon levels in the soil so it can hold in the nitrogen effectively. This miracle fertilizer is an excellent choice for rapid fill in and high stress areas.

Do holly trees produce berries every year?

Holly trees can produce vibrant-red berries that are very popular as Christmas decorations. The trees grow to a height between 15 to 30 feet, with foliage that is usually columnlike. Under the proper conditions, holly trees usually produce berries once a year.

What time of year do holly berries appear?

Like many other flowering plants, hollies bloom in the springtime, then produce fruits in the fall. Depending on your area and microclimate, hollies may bloom any time between early spring and the very beginning of summer, though in warm areas they will bloom sooner.

Why does my holly have green berries?

Female holly, in turn, produces what appears to be a green berry in the center of the four petals. This ‘berry’ contains the receptor for the pollen. When pollination does not occur, the female will drop its blossoms and not produce berries.

Can you put Holly-tone on top of mulch?

Sprinkle Holly-tone ® around like adding salt and pepper to food. If the area to be fed is mulched it is preferable to remove the mulch, feed, and then restore the mulch on top of the application of plant food. Shrubs such as hollies, azaleas, and rhododendron use 1 cupful of Holly-tone ® per foot of branch spread.

Can you use too much Holly-tone?

A: It would take a ridiculous amount to kill any plant with a granular, organic fertilizer like Holly-tone. An excess would have more of a gradual detrimental effect, such as affecting the tree’s color or making them more attractive to bugs.

Does Holly-tone fertilizer go bad?

I checked my bag of Holly-tone and could find no use-by date or expiration date. That said, I wouldn’t buy more of these products than could be used in one season. If the product has been stored in a dry, cool location it should be fine and I would use it.

How do I know if my holly is male or female?

The best way to determine the sex of holly plants is by examining the flowers, which are located between the leaf and branch joint. Although the small clusters of creamy white flowers are similar in appearance, males have more prominent stamens than females.

What soil does holly like?

Most hollies prefer a site that receives full sun, or is lightly shaded. They need a moist, but well-drained soil, enriched with lots of organic matter. They will grow in most soils types, but don’t like gardens on solid chalk.