Photinia leaf spot

Posts

• pbff Posts: 433

  January 2018

  Hi Paul,

  Leaf-spotting on Photinia is usually a sign of environmental stress.

  The affected leaves are generally shed in summer and can make the plant look rather bald. Giving a general-purpose balanced fertiliser can help the plant to grow new healthy leaves more quickly.

  The plant can become rather twiggy and sparse and may need pruning in June to help it bush up again.

  Photinia is not particularly fond of cold, damp weather (AKA the average UK winter!), especially where there are regular hard frosts or cold, biting winds.

  Younger plants are especially susceptible to the climate.

  For this reason, Photinia is only really worth planting if you either live in a sheltered area, or if you can provide shelter by planting against a fence or wall.

  Mulching with plenty of well-rotted organic matter in spring or autumn, taking care to avoid the mulch touching the woody bases, can also help.

  Hope this helps.

  pbff

  🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌

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• Paul390 Posts: 3

  January 2018

  Thanks pbff

  All of them have a fence behind and have been planted in the past 2-3yrs. From 6ft to 8-9ft and climbing! We are very sheltered here, garden is surrounded by large neighbouring tress on all sides.

  I’ll definitely try the general purpose fertiliser and organic matter before pruning in the Summer.

  many thanks 

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• pbff Posts: 433

  January 2018

  I assume from what you say that they were 6ft plants when you planted them?

  The taller a plant is, the longer it takes for it to establish.

  Although many companies offer hedging plants already 5-6ft tall, and it's tempting to buy these as you would think that you'll get a taller hedge more quickly, it is actually better to buy smaller plants, about 18" to 2ft tall, which in fact will grow much better, with denser bases.

  Obviously not of much help to you now, but pruning quite hard will encourage lots of new shoots (which hopefully, will be healthier).

  All the best.

  pbff

  🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌

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• Paul390 Posts: 3

  January 2018

  Thanks for the advice.

  We bought them at 6ft and have pruned top and front each year. They’re fairly dense now and we‘re aiming for around 10ft high.

  I’m going to prune them hard in Spring, remove the dead leaves and apply fertiliser and organic matter.

  Thanks again.

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