Developing Japanese winterberry

Spring work for this small ilex serrata is straight forward. I want the primary branches to thicken so I let them run. Aluminum wire helps them set in place.

Japanese winterberry – before

Japanese winterberry – after

If you look closely, you can see that the apex is much smaller than the main part of the trunk. It will take several years for the apex to catch up, so I expect to let it run for some time.

I’ll need to pay close attention over the coming weeks to ensure the wire doesn’t cut in. Scars heal slowly on deciduous hollies and the branches can swell quickly.