How to Care for Holly in Winter
Holly is at its best in winter, but evergreen types can suffer cold, drying winds. A little autumn preparation protects the foliage and preserves the berries that make the season's display.
Why winter matters for evergreen holly
Deciduous hollies like winterberry drop their leaves and simply glow with fruit, needing no protection. Evergreen hollies, however, keep their leaves through winter and continue to lose moisture from them on cold, windy days — when the frozen ground cannot replace it. The result is winter burn: browned, scorched leaf margins, worst on the windward and sunny sides.
How to protect holly in winter
Water evergreen hollies deeply in late fall, before the ground freezes, so the plant is fully hydrated. Maintain a two- to three-inch layer of mulch over the root zone to insulate the roots and hold moisture. In exposed, windy sites — or for hollies newly planted — a burlap screen on the windward side or an anti-desiccant spray reduces moisture loss through the worst of the cold.
Enjoying the winter display
Winter is holly's moment. The berries feed birds through the cold months and supply classic cut greenery for wreaths and arrangements. Harvesting a few berried branches for the holidays doubles as light pruning, though on a female holly it is worth leaving plenty for the birds and the view.