What compost to plant Holly in?
I've just got this Holly plant. It's about 2ft or 3ft but it's stick-like, as in not thick and bushy yet. I want to plant it in a container permanently but I'm unsure which compost would be best.
I've read they like acid soil but I'm not sure if using ericacious compost alone is best. I don't want to have to change the compost regularly and disturb the plant. Would John Innes No3 be better? Or a mix of both?
Also, is there anything I could plant with it until it gets bigger? The pot will look a bit empty but I don't want to add something that could harm this Holly or stunt it's growth.
0
Posts
Holly doesn't need acid soil. A pot full of ordinary garden soil would be best. Failing that a loam based compost. You don't need to repot unless it is potbound. Just topdress each year with a little compost mixed with fertiliser.
They self seed all over my clay garden. They're not fussy.
You could plant annuals like pansies. The roots don't go to deep and maybe a few tete-a-tete or similar.
Thank you ?. What is 'loam based'? Is that John Innes? I don't know which one to buy.
B3, what self seeds everywhere?
Holly
It's a bit of a pain sometimes but not if you pull it out before the principles form!
Last edited: 21 August 2017 20:51:46
you need John Innes No 3.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Predictive text certainly has a way with words!
If you don't have your own soil, John Innes no 3 is fine.
I've been reading up a bit more and now I can't decide where to plant it. It says they can die in containers if they're in an exposed windy site, which mine would be. I could plant it in the back garden which is quite sheltered but the new topsoil there is very alkaline and that might kill it too.
And now I've read that it's bad luck if a Holly dies!!
It is Ilex aquifolium pyramidalis. I think they still get berries without a mate. I really hope they are hard to kill because I'm not good at gardening. I've even managed to kill vinca minor.
My idea was to plant it in the tub until it grows too big and then plant it out in the garden. I'm now scared it will freeze to death in the tub. I read that container plants freeze much more easily. It's also windy there and I don't want the wind breaking it. Should I keep it staked? Or would it be better in the back garden on the very alkaline soil new topsoil?