Foster Holly – If I leave a 4′ Stump Will It Sprout Again?

Q: Last month’s snow bent my 25’ tall Foster holly about 90 degrees and I think I will have to cut it. I can leave a 4’ stump, will it sprout from that stump? 

A: Foster holly, along with most other hollies, is very responsive to pruning. If your tree is healthy it’s almost certain that it will resprout from the stump you leave. But it is also true that these new sprouts will not be as firmly attached to the trunk as the original limbs were. For that reason, don’t let your holly grow more than ten or fifteen feet tall. If it is near something valuable, like your parking area or patio, the better course of action might be to replace your tree with another Foster holly.