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Red Robin

jainenoronajainenorona Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I have a red robin that is about 13ft tall, I’d like to cut it down to about 7ft, my question is what time of year should I do this, it’s already started signs of flowering. 
Thank you in advance! 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I saw one of these photinia Red Robins being grown as a multi stemmed tree with a raised crown.  It was fabulous but way to tall and wide for most domestic gardens tho I shall try it with one I have in our mixed hedgerow alongside the road.

    Normally it is grown as a single specimen shrub or a hedge and should be pruned in spring.   This will encourage lots of the bright red growth for which it is admired so, as well as taking the stems down by half, take a good look at it afterwards and consider also thinning it by removing up to a third of the stems back to their base to allow better air flow and balance the shape if necessary.  You can repeat this thinning every year, taking out the oldest stems and any that are diseased or damaged and that will keep you shrub renewed.

    If grown as a hedge, they usually need trimming 2 or 3 times a year to keep the shape and you get new red leaves each time.

    Here's some info from the RHS - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/94829/photinia-fraseri-red-robin/details


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    The best time to prune is when you are in the mood.  Do it soon.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    I'd normally wait until a shrub has finished flowering before pruning just to allow the blooms be of some benefit to pollinators. Later in the spring will also help new shoots that grow after pruning to develop with less danger of frost damage.

    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • rossdriscoll13rossdriscoll13 Posts: 234
    @jainenorona the best time to prune is in spring or summer but avoid pruning after mid August as new growth will be susceptible to frost in the autumn. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Are we talking about the Red Robin actually flowering or, as is sometimes the case, is the new growth of red-coloured leaves what is being referred to as ‘signs of flowering’?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jainenoronajainenorona Posts: 2
    It’s actually flowering! 😬
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Lovely 😊 then I’d prune in May as the flowers should be over by then. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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