With Holly, you should cut longer than required, and leave longer side shoots, and seal the cut ends with paint or varnish, till seasoned or it tends to crack.If tyou really want the best out of Holly. Cut the shanks about 6ft long and about 4 or 5 inches thick, and seal the ends till seasoned which may be upto 3 years +
You plane or file it square then take the corners off hexagonal, mark around the knots with a pencil and file round leaving the knots proud. This way your working with the heart wood, and it also can never warp.
It makes fantastic sticks. Doing this, you must seal the whole