pruning Holly

[railman]

I have a holly hedge that is well overgrown. It now reaches the windows of the second floor. How can I prune this back to a managable height?

[pruninggal]

Hi Railman,

If the Holly is above the height you currently want it, you will always battle it. They are large plants and are not fun to prune. If you top or shear it, it will only become more dense and the growth will not be arrested. Perhaps putting on some heavy clothes (or hiring someone) to window out the shrub so you can see through it will not make it seem so large. (Windowing is taking out entire branches back to the main stump).

Good luck!

Katy