SHRUBS > PHOTINIA > PRUNING

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PHOTINIA GUIDES

red and green foliage from a photinia shrub growing outdoors

Common ProblemsContainer GrowingPropagationPruningRed Robin

If you desire a low - maintenance , hardy and colorful bush , look no further than genus Photinia and its varieties – the vast majority of which are evergreen shrubs .

Some genus Photinia varieties are tree and a few are deciduous bush and in this guide , I will explain how to prune evergreen shrubs , like Photinia ‘ Red Robin ’ .

a photinia plant showing discoloured leaves caused by leaf spot

While many extremity of the Plant Kingdom are illustrious fortheir autumn colours , genus Photinia brings a new twist and is prized for its bound and summertime leaf colours , with its young leaves displaying center - catching timber of red and pinko .

Like most evergreen plant shrubs , Photinia do not require to be dress as such .

They uprise in a naturally pleasing form , but with minimum trimming for size and shape , and to take out stray , protruding stems , pruning can be a unspoiled mind .

photinia shrub with red and green leaves and umbels of small creamy-white flowers

Why Prune Photinia?

The first target is disease prevention .

Photinia×frasericultivars , of which ‘ Red Robin ’ is one , are very susceptible to leaf spot which is a fungous disease .

Correct pruning in the interior of the bush during the autumn and wintertime season will significantly subdue the chances of the plant succumbing to this disease .

gardener using a cotton wool pad to clean a pair of blue secateurs

In addition , a few genus Photinia variety are renowned for the eye - catching and exciting colours of emerging foliation and unseasoned leaves .

counterbalance trimming on the root word peak during spring will stimulate fresh foliage and with it , those charming , exciting colors .

It ’s important to be mindful that it is this very foliation , the fresh immature leaves that are so colorful and desirable , that is most susceptible to that worrisome leafage spot .

photinia hedge with green and red leaves growing next to a road

When To Prune Photinia

The spring trim , as stated above , gives rise to those colourful unseasoned leaves that photinia is prized for .

However , this bush also produces clusters or sprays of footling flowers of a plentiful creamy colour , in the late leap and other summer , which are also a delightful sight .

These bloom will appear only on untrimmed stems , so you have a choice to make between colorful foliage or creamy heyday .

gardener using a powered hedge trimmer to prune a photinia shrub

The first phase of pruning is generally done in late autumn to early wintertime , with the 2d being carry out in mid - bounce .

We excuse these two phase angle below in more item .

Preparation Before Pruning

Make certain to desexualize your tools before any case of pruning , especially with genus Photinia as it is so susceptible to leaf spot .

Diluted rubbing alcohol , a root of whitener , or readily - available bridge player sanitiser ( with sufficient alcoholic drink content ) are all very good sterilising agents .

We propose you wear horticulture gloves before undertaking any pruning tasks .

Autumn-Winter Pruning For Disease Prevention

The bearing of this pruning is to check that the low-toned part and interior of the bush are not dense and back up because if it is , it has to be open up up .

“ I would tend to spread up Photinia that are in partial nuance or have endure from foliage spot , ” shares Colin Skelly , a Master Horticulturist .

“ This will optimise line movement and light-headed insight . This should help to maintain the wellness of the shrub .

“ Asides from plant health , Photinia can be work , so do n’t be afraid to get adhere in . fend off hedge cutters or shears , though , to exert the attractive leafage . ”

From the bottom and interior of the bush , quality stems to eliminate .

The first to go should be those that are dead and diseased .

You should also prune branches that are touching and scratch against others , choosing to eliminate the one that is older or misshapen .

eventually , prune to open up up space in the inside of the bush to permit sunlight to hand it and raise air circulation .

If you choose to carry out this chore on an annual groundwork you should n’t have to prune many branches at all , but if you begin to dress a leave out or congested bush , you may postulate to dispatch up to a third of the stems .

Spring Trimming For Foliage Colours

The 2nd stage of clipping is well done in mid - springiness or later if you live in a very cold neighborhood , as a subsequent frost may well plague fresh growing .

The aim is to cut back shoots and young branches by 10 - 18 cm .

This will trigger sweet outgrowth that will bring about those delicious foliation people of color .

I powerfully recommend that powered hedge trimmers not be used at all and that you only practice mitt gardening tools ( with piercing blade ) for cut photinias .

shave protruding and straggly offset by a gravid distance whilst trimming respectable shoots by smaller lengths .

If you would like the bush to stand flowers , bring down only about 50 % of the branches and shoot in this way .

During spring trimming , you may as well endeavor to give a gentle up candle to the shrub .

Such a taper will allow sunlight to reach all the way down the George H.W. Bush , and sunlight plays a big part in keep plant diseases at bay .