{"id":2788,"date":"2023-09-16T13:28:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T13:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/?p=2788"},"modified":"2023-09-16T13:28:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T13:28:29","slug":"how-to-grow-photinia-red-robin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/how-to-grow-photinia-red-robin\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow Photinia Red Robin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Red Robin is a wonderful plant, that is enjoyed for its striking foliage when young, and which grows into a perfect screening plant when older.<\/p>\n

But how to grow photinia red robin? Not to worry, we\u2019ve got you covered with all the most important hints and tips for planting and growing this lovely evergreen!<\/p>\n

How To Grow Photinia Red Robin<\/h2>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

These beautiful plants are pretty easy to grow and care for, but like all plants they do have some preferred conditions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. It likes a full sun to partial shade position.<\/strong> Native to North America and Asia, this plant likes to be warm!<\/li>\n
  2. Air circulation is a must.<\/strong> Red robin won\u2019t like to be sandwiched in between two walls; it needs to feel the breeze on its leaves to thrive.<\/li>\n
  3. Loose, well draining soil.<\/strong> No plant likes to be waterlogged, and this one is no exception – it will need to have soil that can easily drain the water away.<\/li>\n
  4. Avoid overwatering.<\/strong> This plant is relatively drought tolerant, and will cope better being too dry than too wet.<\/li>\n
  5. Prune it once or twice a year.<\/strong> Once established, Photinia can grow quite quickly, and a little haircut will keep them healthy, bushy – and stop them from taking over your garden!<\/li>\n
  6. Feed twice a year.<\/strong> Use a feed of fish, blood and bone meal to give your red robin the extra boost of nutrients.<\/li>\n
  7. Keep an eye out for leaf spot.<\/strong> This fungal condition can cause the leaves to drop, and in severe cases the health of the entire plant can be compromised.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This<\/a> detailed article will tell you how to grow all types of Photinia, with a little feature of Red Robin!<\/p>\n

    How Quickly Does Photinia Red Robin Grow?<\/h2>\n

    This plant is absolutely fantastic to use as a hedge or screening plant<\/a> – it is fast growing, attractive, and very easy to care for.<\/p>\n

    With the right conditions, red robin can grow up to 30cm a year<\/strong>, making it great to plant in a place where you needs something quickly.<\/p>\n

    You can encourage it to grow as big as it can, by providing its favourite conditions and giving it a strategic pruning once a year.<\/p>\n

    They will not grow quite as big if they are not in the right conditions, but they are still a fast growing shrub that should be allowed space.<\/p>\n

    It is always wise to prune your photinia no matter how big it gets, as this will encourage new growth and those beautiful red shoots.<\/p>\n

    You can, of course, allow it to grow and spread as much as it likes – but watch out for it spreading too far and shading other plants.<\/p>\n

    How Do You Encourage Red Robin To Grow?<\/h2>\n

    Once you\u2019ve got your photinia in, you want it to be as healthy and beautiful as it can be, right? Obviously, the right conditions will give the best results.<\/p>\n

    Ensure that is has enough sunlight<\/strong> – at least 5-6 hours a day – but don\u2019t panic as it will also grow in partial shade.<\/p>\n

    A photinia that doesn\u2019t have air circulation<\/strong> will not thrive – ensure that the breeze can get between its leaves and that it is not squashed into corners.<\/p>\n

    Make sure that the soil is well-draining<\/strong> – if it is too heavy then the plant will struggle to grow.<\/p>\n

    You can add some fertiliser or manure<\/strong> to the soil – this will bring in some much-needed nutrients, and can also help the soil to drain better.<\/p>\n

    Pruning<\/strong> is one of the best ways to encourage growth – and, in this case, to produce beautiful red foliage.<\/p>\n

    Trim the plant from the top<\/strong> to encourage it to bush out to the side more, as this is an area that it naturally grows more slowly.<\/p>\n

    You can also deadhead the flowers<\/strong> when they are spent – this allows the plant to put more of its energies into growing new, healthy foliage.<\/p>\n

    What Month Do You Prune Red Robin?<\/h2>\n

    All plants benefit from a little pruning once in a while – and in the case of red robin it might become necessary, as they are very good at growing!<\/p>\n

    It is always best to wait until the plant is more dormant before you do a prune – hacking it back at the height of the growing season will stunt it.<\/p>\n

    If you prune in early to mid June<\/strong>, just after the flowers are dying back, your plant will likely bounce back incredibly well.<\/p>\n

    Pruning is easy – simply take some sharp secateurs and snip the stems, making sure to do so just above a leaf node.<\/p>\n

    Alternatively, you can trim your red robin right back using a hedge trimmer if it has gone wild – it is very hardy and will simply regrow!<\/p>\n

    Make sure that you do prune it, however, as it can grow large and unruly, and pruning it is the best way to keep it in shape.<\/p>\n

    This video will show you the best and most effective way to prune red robin:<\/p>\n