Hard pruning Ilex crenata

[woodguy]

I have an Ilex crenata that I bought at a fall sale at a local nursery last season. My question is how hard can these be cut back and how well do they back bud. Can they be treated like boxwood and reduced to a stump basically or should they be reduced gradually over a few seasons?

 

[jk_lewis]

Well, it is always better to do things slowly. Any plant can be shocked by too much work too soon. It will depend on its overall health. I certainly would do little or no root work if you cut it back severely.

 

[woodguy]

Thanks JKL. The plant is very healthy, at least it seems to be. Still dormant right now. Just want to make sure that this is a species that will tolerate a hard pruning. It could stay in it's nursery pot for another season so if I cut it hard I'll wait until next spring to reduce the roots.