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What's happening to my Photonia?

ambreen.ahsan28GyuZ7H5hambreen.ahsan28GyuZ7H5h Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi all, 

I've just moved and the hedge in the driveway seems to be going downhill. Is this vine weevils or something else? If vine weevils, most treatment is recommended from March. So do I just wait or treat it anyway? I'm finding dry twigs and vines at the bottom so I'm worried it might die soon. 
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Unfortunately - it's what they do in many areas - they need warm temps and moisture to be consistently attractive.
    However, Photinia is evergreen [more or less according to the area] and all evergreens drop foliage and look rough at various times of the year, regardless of location and climate. There may be some damage from weather or other pests, but it doesn't look that bad to me if it's just that little bit. 

    It isn't vine weevil damage, but even if it was, nematode treatments need to be applied in warm enough temperatures for them to be effective, so this time of year would be unsuitable. Chemical treatments are different :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Wait and see how the hedge fares from March onwards when it enters its new growing phase.  Like @Fairygirl says, that's how a lot of photinias look at this time of year.  The plants are dormant at the moment and although they are evergreen, they do show signs of wear and tear due to wind and rain damage in winter.  You could give them an organic feed such as blood fish and bone in spring to give them a boost.  Also make sure they are watered if it hasn't rained for a while.  I wouldn't be too worried if I were you!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't have any Photinia, but I do have Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides) and I can't help thinking that the leaves and growth habit look identical to Star Jasmine. I may well be wrong, but are you sure it's a Photinia?

    Either way I don't know what's been munching on it, but it's quite minor damage and I'd not be concerned unless it worsens in the Spring.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited January 2022
    They do look quite narrow for Photinia @Pete.8. I wondered if it was that too, but I don't grow the jasmine [wouldn't survive here] and I hate Photinia, so I only see it in other gardens round here - looking lousy normally!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'm not keen on Photinias either.
    They almost all seem to have Photinia Leaf Spot which makes them look diseased (which they are :))

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They usually look awful round here @Pete.8 - our climate just doesn't suit them, but people seem to keep buying them!
    There are so many better shrubs IMO. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I stopped growing photinias for the same reasons @Pete.8 and @Fairygirl!.  May be another photo of your hedge from a distance would help us decide on the ID of your plant @ambreen.ahsan28GyuZ7H5h. I've grown Star Jasmine too but as a climber rather than as a hedge.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I love my photinia!  Even now it is beginning to show the new growth that will give the lovely red leaf display as seen here.  But I've just checked and the leaves do seem to be longer and wider than those in your photograh.

    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's hard to see in @ambreen.ahsan28GyuZ7H5h 's pic - but it's certainly very shrubby lower down, so perhaps it is a jasmine and is growing through an existing hedge.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ambreen.ahsan28GyuZ7H5hambreen.ahsan28GyuZ7H5h Posts: 6
    Thank you all for the reassurance! I'm not entirely sure what  it is to be honest. I'm not too clued up on plants so this will be a steep learning curve for me. I will send a picture from a bit further away in a bit so that might help xx
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