Inkberry (Ilex glabra): when and how to prune

Inkberry (Ilex glabra): when to prune it?

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In June for trimming into shape; in March for hard renewal pruning of old, bare shrubs.

What else to prune in those months? March · June

Inkberry (Ilex glabra): how to prune it?

1. Trim hedges and edging in June with hedge shears; the shrub tolerates hard pruning.
2. To rejuvenate, cut an old, bare shrub back in March to 20–30 cm above the ground; it shoots again from the base.
3. Remove dead or damaged branches back to healthy wood.
4. Cut a hedge slightly tapered (wider at the bottom), so that the base also gets light and does not turn bare.

How much to cut, and how often?

• There are 2 pruning periods a year: March and June. You don’t have to prune in every one.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in March and June can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Inkberry (Ilex glabra) flowers in June, when it attracts bees.
• If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Holly
• Japanese holly
• Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
• Blue holly
• Alder buckthorn
• Barberry

Plant profile: Inkberry (Ilex glabra) · Pruning calendar and basic rules