Can you prune a holly bush???

[goofy4tink]

I don't post here often but you all seem to be so knowledgable that I'm asking you. I have a holly (2 that have become 1 so to speak) that has gotten slightly out of hand!! It is just flourishing and is getting too big. Blocking the light from everything around it. Can I prune it back a bit? If so, when. I got to anxious last fall and killed my butterfly bush by pruning it then instead of early spring and it never grew again...so I don't want the same thing to happen to the holly. Same question for a small azeala bush. I assume that after it finishes flowering I can trim it back? Thanks all.

 

[Maleficent2]

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/pruning/pruning.html

 

[goofy4tink]

Thank-you. That was quite helpful!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

In NJ we had lots of American Holly trees, they grow wild, and some of mine were cultivated and some were self planted. If any became spindly, a holly nursery specialist told me that I could even cut all branches off and keep the stump and the tree would grow back thick and beautiful. This was a drastic measure but it did work. So, pruning your holly tree back may add to your problems down the line.

Bobbi