Pruning Photinia

Hi all,

When is the best way to get a Photinia "red robin" into shape ? I bought three 18 months ago, they have grown a lot but not outwards. The havnt bulked up at all, only shot upwards. How do i get them into the shape of a nice bush ?

 

Just tagging this thread Mr grinch , I have exactly the same problem. So hopefully someone on GC can help

 

No good asking me, I killed mine.

 

let them get to the height you want them to remain

then just pinch off the top inch (or cut it with a secateurs) on the central stem .... you can do this anytime (you don't have to wait)

but make 100% sure that it is the height that you want it to remain at

 

I'm no expert but have a few photinas for different purposes - wanted some tall and slender and the others bushy.

My local nurseryman told me if I wanted bushier plants to give them a good haircut (as if trimming the top of a hedge) the first few years in autumn (I think they can take a lot of abuse, but I followed his instructions and did autumn and didn't take too much off, about 4-6 inches roughly). I followed that for the ones I wanted bushy and they are turning into nice bushy specimens, a type of roundy vase shape with good growth and bushiness in the top 2/3rds and the yearly top haircut also seems to encourage them to shoot from the bottom half branches too - I've had them two years.

Others may have other views and I'd be interested to hear them.

Hope that helps.

 

I thought these where supposed to be indestructable

:D

 

:thumb:

 

they make a good hedge



there is also a pink variety (I have not seen one though)