The Culture of Evergreen Hollies 
All evergreen hollies prefer a light well-drained soil. 
They should not be planted in ground that is soggy 
or subject to frequent flooding, nor in a heavy clay 
soil. While an acid reaction is necessary for good growth 
of holly, if preparation for them is made as described 
below, they will thrive. 
If you spend twice as much on the hole as on the 
tree, once planted the tree will take care of itself. 
This may sound like a Chinese proverb, but it is es- 
sentially true. When planting a holly, dig the hole 
twice as large as required for the roots. Then mix to- 
gether 14 sand, 14 peat moss or rotted leaves, and 14 
good top soil. Plant the tree with the top roots just 
below the surface of the ground, using the soil mixture 
for filling around it. (Do not plant hollies deep or 
they will die.) When the hole is 34 filled, add wate. 
until it is ready to overflow and let it settle. After 
the water has sunk in, fill the rest of the hole and tamp 
to compact it. Water again in two days. 
Hollies do not like rubble, mortar and trash usually 
found around new houses. If you wish to use holly 
in the foundation planting, dig out the trash which will 
usually be found under a thin layer of soil and throw 
it away. Too much emphasis cannot be put on good 
soil for hellies. 
During the heat of summer soak the soil around each 
holly once a week. Cottonseed meal, castor bean meal 
or soyabean meal are good fertilizers. One handful in 
May and another in September for each holly will 
give it the plant food it needs. Do not use lime or bone 
meal, except on English holly. 
In November spread a mulch of peat moss, sawdust 
or ground corncobs two inches thick under each holly. 
This will conserve moisture, keep weeds down and pre- 
vent injury by alternate freezing and thawing. Do 
not work it into the soil. Repeat each fall. 
A holly hedge is an effective barrier against humans and 
animals. This one, which is sheared twice a year, sur- 
rounds a rosé garden. 
