The Ilex also known as the Holly hedge, has glossy and dark-green foliage. It produces red berries and makes an excellent garden feature. It is also an excellent plant for privacy screening as it can form a dense hedge.

The Holly has many great features that you would want to see in your hedge. Here are some of those features:

• The plant is very dense and thanks to its evergreen foliage it makes a lasting canvas for other garden plants. This will provide more screening and privacy.
• The Holly can have a positive impact on the surrounding environment. This will add to the local biodiversity.
• The Holly is known to live extremely long. If planted in the right conditions and circumstances, it can live for more than 40 years.
• The plant can be manipulated into unusual curves and shapes, what makes it very versatile.
• The Holly is a low maintenance plant. You can maintain the hedge in top shape by only pruning it once a year. When planted alone, it does not need pruning.

Where to plant the Holly?

The Holly hedge is planted in average, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It will tolerate a wide range of soils, including chalky and clay soils. The Ilex does not like waterlogged or dry soils.

Be aware to avoid planting the Holly in alkaline soils, so you can avoid chlorosis. It is important to apply a thick layer of mulch to reduce the evaporation of water from the soil.