This can cause even a moisture-loving plant to suffer from oversaturation, as water is likely to pool instead of draining away, limiting the roots’ intake of essential oxygen. Elevate the CrownĪ common mistake gardeners make when planting is to set the crown, or the point where the branches meet the roots, too deeply in the soil. You’ll read about one shortly, in the “Substitute for Boxwood” section, and you’ll be introduced to several others in the photo captions throughout the article.Īllowing suckers to remain in proximity to the main shrub may be detrimental to all in the form of crowding that causes reduced airflow and root space, competition for nourishment, and reduced sun exposure. You can reduce the risk of suckering by purchasing a cultivated variety, rather than a straight species. If they are uprooted with care, you may be able to transplant them. The species plant, as it appears in the wild, is prone to “suckering.” In addition, stressors like a lack of water or root damage from mowing equipment can make a plant more likely to sucker.Īs soon as you see sprouts growing under or near your shrub, pull them out and discard them, unless you want multiple hollies to grow. If they are not removed, you may end up with a “colony” of shrubs that sprouted from the first one. Suckers are shoots that grow randomly from a shrub, tree, or other woody plant’s roots. So, you may want to buy a female, give it a year or two, and if you don’t get fruit, seek out a male from a reputable nursery. The closer you plant a male and female, the greater the chance of pollination.Īlso, the primary pollinators of these plants are bees, so if you have an abundance of flowers, the odds of producing fruit are even greater.Īnd finally, since this is a native plant, it’s possible that a male may be growing near enough for pollinators to visit it and then come to your property. That’s a great question, and there’s not a definite answer. The logical question I’m sure you’re thinking is, “How far apart should I plant them?” However, only the female sets fruit, provided there is a male shrub in the vicinity to provide the pollen necessary for fertilization. This is a dioecious species, and both male and female plants produce flowers.
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