How to Shape a Possumhaw Holly

The possumhaw holly tree has green foliage through summer, but its true beauty shines through in fall as the leaves begin to fall. Each branch is covered in dense red berries that add bright color to the autumn and winter landscape. This variety of holly has a shrubby form, with a width that often matches its average height of 15 feet. Light pruning helps shape the possumhaw holly while still allowing it to produce its abundance of attractive berries.

Pruning saw
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the branches in late winter or early spring before they begin leafing out. Locate any crossing branches or weak branches.
- 2
  Cut out the weak or crossing branches with a pruning saw. Remove weak branches where they join the nearest healthy wood. Cut back crossed branches to the nearest branch union. Make the cut flush with trunk or main branch you are cutting back to.
- 3
  Trim back the branch tips to a bud or leaf in late winter, using bypass shears. Remove up to a third of the branches length with each cut. Cut back the tips on all sides of the possumhaw holly to shape it. These hollies aren't suitable for formal pruning, so shape lightly so it still has a natural-looking form.
- 4
  Remove up to a third of the shrubby branches that emerge from the base of the plant every one to three years. Cut any branches that are at least 1 inch thick to the ground. Thinning out the branches encourages the holly to maintain its attractive shape.
- 5
  Prune out newly overgrown or broken branches at any time during the year. While primary pruning is done in late winter, possumhaw hollies can tolerate light maintenance pruning year-round.

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