On 14/10/07 21:19, in article ,
"BlueFlower" wrote:

Hi, I wonder can anyone help me? I have a Blue Princess holly and a J.C.
Van Tol that I planted in two different areas of my newly created garden
in May. Unfortunately over the summer they both have lost some leaves,
leaving them a bit leggy. Any ideas why this would have happened? Will
the leaves grow back next year or will I be left with leggy plants?
Should I prune them? (They were bought with the root ball wrapped in
hessian, which I planted intact as I'd heard that hollies don't like
their roots being disturbed.)

Can you imagine spending your entire life with your feet treated as those of
Chinese girls in time long gone? A long time ago I used to have an Irish
gardener who, when he planted anything, big or small, inevitably said to me
"will I plant 'em in de pots"?
The answer was 'no' because the roots are constricted. While the soil is
still warm, resurrect the hollies, take off the hessian and replant the
hollies, making sure the hole you've dug for them is at least a third larger
than the current root ball. Some people will tell you to tease out the
roots a little - I do - my husband says people break them and damage the
plant further. Up to you. If there is a dry spell where you're gardening,
keep them watered.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'