Pruning a Photinia Fraseri ‘Red Robin’

jamesharcourt

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?  

punkdoc

That plant will never grow as well as the others, because of the conditions it has.

jamesharcourt

Perhaps, but it is definitely growing wider rather than tall. And I wanted to see if I can get more height

Dovefromabove

Then I rather think you’ll need to remove the rose ...

jamesharcourt

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!

Fishy65

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...

jamesharcourt

What do you mean ‘native’ shrub @Fishy65 ? And why would that be beneficial?

Fishy65

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.