Sky Pencil Holly

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[beverleyhunter]

Thank you for explaining about how to trim the branches if they fall over because, l wanted to buy this low maintenance sky pencil holly for the corner of my house B Hunter from Ct.

[BeesKnees]

Those discarded pieces would look nice in bouquet arrangements.

[CriticalBeautySalon]

Some plants are prone to splaying open or having their branches split when weighted with snow. Arborvitaes and Sky Pencil Japanese holly are two common examples. These can be loosely wrapped with foam-covered wire to invisibly hold stems together, or even tie the plant to a nearby structure.

[frazercollins]

Hey all, you can avoid this problem altogether by purchasing the improved cultivar called Straight and Narrow Holly. It's an improved version of Sky Pencil that has stronger more sturdy stems that won't flop over.

[bannguyen]

Question? I am told Sky Pencil Holly only live for 8 years? I didn’t ask about this before I ordered 20 of them I am waiting to hear from you please. Good health

[seanrobinson]

I would have wired the top and done a lighter prune. It'll train back. What you did was good though. Especially close to the house. Thing that's nice about sky pencils is if you do a light seasonal trim across the top they thicken up and stay columnar. Just can't let them get away from you.

[amandaseverance]

Hello! 
I am in Zone 5b and decided to go ahead and purchase a sky pencil holly. It was delivered yesterday, and it looks like I got two babies in one pot! I am concerned as ever to help it/them thrive. I will be planting them on the Southern side of my brick home. I understand to keep the soil more acidic and amend the sandiness, but I am worried about wintertime. I have three main questions: 
1. Will covering the plant in winter help preserve it, or would that create other health concerns?  
2. Is planting them in a large pot and bringing them in to a porch during winter a viable option?
3. Would it be okay outside in a large pot with a covering over winter in freezing conditions? 
I would appreciate any tips you might have for helping keep this sweet little plant happy. 
Thanks!

[aceyboy]

Could have you wrapped some gardening string around the top to train it to grow straight? Loved the video.

[Stargone]

Four years later, any updates? I'm here in Zone 5 SW Michigan.

[khtboston]

Looks great... Would you think about prunning them all the same height?

[jennyp.farias]

How can I nurture my sky pencil holly shrubs after my horse and my mule ate the tops off? I came home from work today and they ate 1/4 to 2/3 of each of my seven plants in my front yard. I bought these because the horticulturist said horses don’t like this shrub 🥲

[janetponcelet]

A little fishing line or twine goes a long way in the winter

[RoxaneFlock-tpeq]

Can I harvest a pencil Holly baby growing off the parent plant?

[mattlloyd]

I'd butcher the others to match or Id put a bamboo stake in the middle and tied it up rather than cut it.

[sydneybrown]

Can the Sky Pencil Holly bush be maintained at the height you just cut it back to? I'm wanting a bit more loose and informal look and max at 6-8 ft. Thank you

[mikar]

Why couldn't all that growth be retrained upright? Why not stake it and tie back each bent piece?

[sdisko]

My landscaper suggested planting "Pencil Boxwood" but I cannot find anything of such name other than "Sky Pencil Holly". Are these one in the same? If not, is there a "pencil" version of the boxwood?

[elicatwoman]

Hi David, do you know why holly sky pencil turned brown and die? I am in zone 9. Thank you

[rickwentz]

Divert water from that valley to fix the problem

[judyhemphill]

why do my pencil hollies always spread apart in spring and bow down? I'm tired of every year having g to trim all these limbs off. I wouldn't have planted these if I knew they would do this every year.