Overgrown evergreen

sue83helen

Hi everybody. This is my first query, I hope someone can advise me. Our neighbours evergreen tree branches have grown over the fence, the shed roof and into our rowan tree. When is the best time to prune back the excessive growth? ( I know I should ask/inform our neighbour but shouldn't be a problem - they said last year we could cut back their apple tree branches and keep any fruit we wanted!)
When my husband re-roofed the shed about three years ago there were no branches over the roof and a nice gap between the evergreen and the apple tree which gave a nice bit of light into our garden. Any ideas? Regards.

Dovefromabove

Hi @sue83helen and welcome to the forum 😊 

That looks to me like an English holly … si the traditional time to cut it would be between late November and Christmas … and then, if the nice neighbour doesn’t  want the trimmings, you can use them to decorate your home, make wreaths etc for Christmas/Yule or however you enjoy the midwinter season. 

However do bear in mind the old saying ‘Growth follows the knife’ which means that the more you cut it back the more it will grow … so light trimming each winter  is probably going to serve your purpose nicely. 😊 

sue83helen

Hi Dovefromabove, thank you for your reply. I was anxious about cutting branches in winter as may do damage to the tree. We are in the Scottish Highlands by the way.
I agree a little pruning at first needed - hope I can rein in my husband's enthusiasm with a saw!   

sue83helen

Hi Dovefromabove, again. I don't think the tree is an English holly. it's leaves are smoothed-edged, glossy and quite large. They remind me of a laurel or a bay, possibly.

Dovefromabove

Thought I could see some red berries bottom left of the second photo?
The colour and texture of the bark looks like holly to me too

Some hollies don't have spikey leaves.  Perhaps a close up of  a sprig or two?

sue83helen

Hi, I will try for a better photo tomorrow, if it's not pouring with rain, again! it's dark now. Yes there are red berries which the blackbirds love. I am watching these overgrown branches and hoping the birds eat the berries there first! will be in touch later. Thanks for your replies.

Dovefromabove

Look forward to seeing more pics ... hope you get a dry day tomorrow.  

Fairygirl

Wait until the wind and rain have eased @sue83helen
If it's holly, it'll be fine being cut back hard. If it's something else, it'll probably still be ok 

sue83helen

Thanks, Fairygirl. I too think it may be large enough ( it must be at least 25 feet tall) and robust enough to take a bit of pruning 

Buttercupdays

Could be holly J.C.van Tol,  it has smooth edged leaves and is self-fertile so doesn't need another holly to fertilise it, so you get more reliable berries.

sue83helen

Thanks Buttercupdays, I think you may be right.