The holly tree, which was an existing tree when I moved in, hasn’t been looking healthy for a number of years. I thought it was due to the ivy which had established itself up the main trunks, so my initial thoughts were to have the ivy cut out. However, a tree specialist that I consulted said that it was unlikely that the ivy would have been at fault. When I moved in the tree had been sheltered from cold winds by four large conifer trees which I had removed so I’m guessing that this might have been the cause of the unhealthy looking tree. As I had decided to redevelop this area anyway I took the decision to have the holly tree removed rather than trying to design the area around an unhealthy tree. As with all tasks in the garden, it helps if you have the right equipment!
