How to Prune Inkberry Shrubs

Native to the United States, inkberry (Ilex Glabra) is a perennial shrub that is commonly used in borders and hedges. Like other holly plants it is considered to be an evergreen because it keeps its leaves during the winter. In order to maintain its shape and to control the size of the shrub inkberries require regular pruning.

Let's take a closer look at the inkberry shrub including how to prune it to encourage growth, control its size and keep it looking full and healthy.

The inkberry grows most actively during the summer and autumn seasons. It has dark green leaves and produces small white flowers in the spring which eventually turn into the dark black berries that the shrub was named for later in the year.

These shrubs have a slow growth rate and reach a height of between 6-8 feet at full maturity. One of the problems with inkberry plants is that they have a tendency to get leggy as they age which means that they lose the leaves on their lower stems. Over time this can become quite pronounced and the bush can look bare and sparse on the bottom.

Some people solve this problem by planting low growing plants or ground cover around the base of the shrubs to hide the empty area. Others control this problem by cutting the plant back.

It should be pruned in the winter months to maintain its shape and to keep it from growing taller than you would like. As you prune it you should focus on narrowing the top of the plant so that the light is able to reach the lower branches. This will help to slow the tendency toward legginess and encourage growth on the lower part of the shrub.

If your inkberry shrubs are already leggy, the best way to solve the problem is to do a renewal pruning. Essentially, with a renewal pruning you are starting over from scratch. This will eliminate the problem of lost foliage on the bottom and your shrubs will grow back to be full and thick again. To do this, cut the entire plant back to about 8-10 inches above the ground in early spring. The shrub will then send up new growth and will return to being bushy and full without the empty spaces at the bottom.

Inkberry bushes do best with plenty of water and do not tolerate drought well. Make sure to keep them well watered to ensure good health.

Inkberry holly can be a beautiful addition to a home or yard. With proper care including regular trimming and pruning it will stay healthy and full and will grow for years to come.