Sacha wrote:

I cannot see anything speculative in: "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."

snip

but the removal of Hessian wrapping is not so clear cut as you suggest :
See http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...ootwrapped.asp

pk