It’s Trouble-free to plant a Nellie Stevens Holly
Nellie Stevens Holly trees like a planting site with full to partial sun and most any soil conditions. Dig a hole a little shallower than the root ball and a minimum of twice the width of the root system. If you’re planting a hedge, outline a visual guide by placing stakes five to six feet apart and looping twine around them. Plant the trees where the stakes are and they’ll grow together to make a seamless wall. You should also loosen up the soil on the sides of the planting hole with your shovel. This will allow the roots to easily go through the soil as they grow.
Next, carefully separate the roots with a blunt garden tool or just use your fingers and direct them downward in the hole. The top of the root flare, where the roots end and the trunk begins, should be about an inch above the nearby soil. Then make sure each tree is straight up and down in the hole. To make it perfect, use a level.
Now, backfill the hole in stages. Add water as you go to remove any air pockets. Water your Nellie Stevens Holly trees again after the transplant is complete. Mulch around each tree to keep the soil moist and reduce weed growth. Use enough mulch to reach a depth of 2"-3" but keep a small circle around the tree trunk that is left uncovered.