Drastic pruning of an English Holly tree

[buildersmate]

I have a mature holly tree which is about 30cm diameter across the trunk at the base so is perhaps 30 years old. For years this tree was deep in other thick undergrowth so grew very tall. Now cleared of competition for light, the first 2.5m have no branches - just stem. I have progressively over 3 years chopped the trunk and vigorous growth at the top back, reducing the height from about 9m to 6m but can't persuade more side shoots to appear lower down. I am contemplating chopping at 3m - just above the existing growth points - to leave very little in the way of side branches and leaves.
Will this action kill it? It still looks pretty silly the way it is.

[Hawkwalk]

It is possible such drastic action could kill it off as there will be very little in the way of leaves and branches to keep the thicker, older trunk and roots alive. It will probably just sit and do very little though for many years and is unlikely to shoot from lower down.

[buildersmate]

Thanks, that's what I suspected.
It seems to work OK with Willow (salix) - man has been severely pruning this species for years to make hedging materials. But I can't find anything about how Holly reacts.

[anitajayne18]

I had a similar problem with an English Holly tree growing 2.0m from my bungalow. I took drastic action two years ago and reduced the height from 7m down to 2.5m. I have now form a lovely ball shape approx. 60cm in dia. to the top and this has been producd by all the new growth. I am constantely removing new growth from the trunk.
On the Estate where I work, I cut down an English Holly as it was blocking out the sun to a swimming pool, leaving a trunk 60cm high, within four years it has grown back to quite a nice shaped shrub approx 1.5 m high.
Hope this is of help

[buildersmate]

Thank you. Sounds like the species is relatively resistant to being hacked around.