Holly Tree Question (trees, yard, tolerant, bush)

[jimboburnsy]

I killed all of the holly trees in my yard with the exception of a large, tall, gnarly old man who looks interesting enough for me to get past the fact that he is a holly tree.

I've been working for a few years on getting this old man to look more like an actual tree than a tall bush with unshaven legs.

Question is: Can I do anything (other than kill it) to convince this tree to STOP SPROUTING below a height of about seven feet? I've been obsessively cleaning up this tree's trunk at least once a week for over three years. Is it ever going to give up?

[azoria]

Probably not. Keep clipping.

[Bulldogdad]

I have one as well. Looks great at Christmas. I found cutting back on the water slowed down the unwanted trunk sprouts. It is a highly drought tolerant plant. It does shed a bit more though.

[ArkansasSlim]

Nope, as azoria wrote; "keep clipping"