Ilex Opaca (American Holly) #1

[Orion_metalhead]

Plucked from front garden... poor root mass initially and I thought it was going to die because it remained dormant for a LONG time into the spring until it finally started pushing new leaves. It is growing nicely now.


Dug up from poor clay soil in front garden in March. It was growing into a larger chunk of mulch so the roots were absolutely tiny.


The entirety of the roots. Needless to say, I did not root prune anything on it. Just put it straight into a 4" nursery seedling container with 100% 8822.


Potted...


It finally showed renewed vigor in middle of May with regained color and new buds showing. Tree has continued to grow. I have since given it 14-14-14 slow release osmocote as a fertilizer. Considering using Bayer rose and tree systemic 3-in-1 as a next fertilizer application as the small osmocote pellets have mostly totally released by now - it's been about 3 months.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Current.

 

[just.wing.it]

Awesome!
One of my favorite trees native to my area.
I've tried my had a few times and killed them a few times.
That one has a nice little wiggle down low, hope it works out for you!
Being so tiny though, you may want to put it back in the ground for a while after you get the root base sorted out.
Keep us posted.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I slip potted this into a slightly bigger terracotta pot earlier this spring. I didnt trim any roots on it.

Its starting to show some new buds so looks like it will live to see another summer. Hopefully I will get some nice new growth this year on it.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Noticed some scale insects on this tree today while inspecting the new leaves forming.



I used a tweezer to crush them. Easy solution.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

End of year update. Slow growing species. Looking healthy, though!

 

[Forsoothe!]

Please tell me you didn't follow through on your threat to use 3-in-1 last year?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Lol. No, I did not. I've been using an organic 4-3-3. But this tree didn't get much attention this year, to be honest. I would make sure it was watered, and had no pests. I would throw some fertilizer on it every month or so.. but that was it.

What is your biggest concern with the 3-in-1? I tried it on a couple of other trees with no issues. I don't like it's smell much, though so I will likely limit it to use on the ornamental roses in the yard.

 

[Forsoothe!]

It precludes scale, among other problems.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

You were worried that I had used it and still had the scale insects? I'm not sure what you're getting at here.

 

[Forsoothe!]

I was hoping you had scale because you didn't use it.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Glass half empty or half-full kind of thing huh?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Buds moving. Going to wire this up this year. Do you think I should do it now or after first flush? Im thinking after first flush.

 

[just.wing.it]

Now is a bad time to wire because the branches are stiff, full of sap pushing those buds open.
Definitely waiting till mid summer when it calms down is better, or in Autumn/Winter is maybe the safest bet.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Fair. Figured it wasnt an ideal time. I guess Ill wait until mid summer. No rush.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Well, I never wired it because of the newborn... but I like the potential. Needs a repot next spring. I dont think I fertilized it once either. Still didn't seem to be affected too much by my negligence.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Repotted the tree. Roots were very healthy. Gave it a tilt. Going to try to actually style this to look like a real old holly youd see in a neighborhood. Maybe ill get some pictures of some of the hollies around the area.

Before:


After:

 

[HorseloverFat]

Repotted the tree. Roots were very healthy. Gave it a tilt. Going to try to actually style this to look like a real old holly youd see in a neighborhood. Maybe ill get some pictures of some of the hollies around the area.

Before:
View attachment 428082

After:
View attachment 428081

LOVE the "classic" foliage on this Ilex!

When I THINK "Holly".. it's THESE leaves that come to mind first..

It's shaping up, friend!

 

[Crawforde]

This looks cool.
I like Ilex, mine are just little sticks at this point but I have hope, and I hope that the leaves will reduce a little with ramification and age.