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Pruning a Photinia Fraseri ‘Red Robin’

About a year ago I planted 4 x red robins for a screening hedge, 3 are 6’ now, but one doesn’t seem to have grown much vertically.  It has had more shade than the others with branches of a rose bush in amongst it.

What kind of cuts to make as the best way to encourage more upright growth and height with this plant?  

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,364
    That plant will never grow as well as the others, because of the conditions it has.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Perhaps, but it is definitely growing wider rather than tall. And I wanted to see if I can get more height
  • Then I rather think you’ll need to remove the rose ...

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • It's a nice rose, it's just a few branches in the way when it has full foliage, but when the rose leaves fall the photinia comes through.

    Thanks folks, come Spring i'll cut some rose baco to give some room to the photinia.  I don't want to do that now though as it's my screen between our front windows and the street!
  • Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,275
    I've found mine to be a rather forgiving shrub. I hadn't pruned it for years but last year gave it a severe prune, down to its central trunk and branches. It has grown back well this year. Having said that I wish I'd planted a native shrub there...
  • What do you mean ‘native’ shrub @Fishy65 ? And why would that be beneficial?
  • Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,275
    One such as Hazel, blackthorn, hawthorn etc. I plant my garden primarily for wildlife and tend to lean towards native as they will generally support more native insect life etc. I planted the photinia in 1998 without giving thought to wildlife, though I'll admit it's quite pretty in it's own way.
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