Hi All Decided to bit the bullet and will be removing all the Phormuims from my garden as a) I don’t what type they are and b) I haven’t a clue what size they will eventually grow.
We moved properties 3 years ago and after leaving my other garden that I was the only one who attended but enjoyed it immensely.
My wife and I decided to go modern and minimalistic in our new garden. This was because I’m not getting any younger and my wife would not be able to care for a full on garden with all that comes with it if I wasn’t here This is why these Phormuim in my garden are so important because if they are oversized then it will spoil the look of the new garden based on the spacing and other plants in the garden
I have now decided to go for half standard Photinia Pink Marble. Could anyone please confirm as,in my garden, size of plants matter, what height they would eventually grow. The half standard size of the plant I am considering buying is 1mr single trunk with 40cm x 40cm top foliage so existing height will be 1.40m. How do I keep it that height ?
I have read that pruning the top foliage will keep it that height but the single trunk will become thicker in time. I would prefer them to stay their present size Any advice will be welcome and thanks again
That's a great pity @Stevedaylilly. If I had any divisions of C. Delight, I'd gladly have sent them to you. I can't advise on the Photinia - they never look healthy here due to our climate -the standards in particular, but they're usually grafted, so your choice would stay at around the height you describe, depending on how large you leave the tops to grow. You'd be trimming the top each year, but could allow them to spread more if you wanted. You wouldn't be able to have any impact on the trunk maturing - that's how it works with any tree or shrub grown with a single trunk.
Sorry @Plantminded - I didn't see your query. I can't really say what it is, because many phormiums change over time if they aren't divided. Yellow Flag can certainly look like that. I had two of them in matching containers, and they lost their variegation quite noticeably because of that. It was only when someone mentioned the dividing to keep the colour, that I realised. When I split one, it made a big difference.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi Fairygirl Thank you for the offer on the C. Delight and thats very kind of you
The Phormuim in my boarder will hopefully go to good homes as I’m like a lot of gardeners that I prefer to not see them just discarded to the waste tip Thank you also for the advice the half standard Photinia as the information on the internet is somewhat confusing on how to keep them at the existing height that you plant them. My major concern is the thickening of the trunk over the years that may possibly ruin the appearance of the plant
Hi Based on my last comment, is there a half standard plant that anyone can suggest that based on it normal height will not thicken the trunk I’m just assuming that the average Photinia eventual height would be approximately 2m. If I but a plant in half standard form that has an eventual height 1.20m then wouldn’t the trunk thickness remain the same over the years Again, thanks for any advice on this
Are the raised beds you will be growing your plants in open to the ground below @Stevedaylilly and if so, is the soil of good quality and reasonable depth? These factors will all influence the eventual size of your plants. I have only ever grown one standard plant, a Bay laurel. The trunk has thickened only slightly with time and not grown at all in height. The crown is kept to a preferred size by regular pruning. I wouldn't worry about the trunk thickening, it's part of the plant's natural growing process. A multi-stemmed shrub is likely to be more problematic on restricting its size.
Sorry @Plantminded - I didn't see your query. I can't really say what it is, because many phormiums change over time if they aren't divided. Yellow Flag can certainly look like that. I had two of them in matching containers, and they lost their variegation quite noticeably because of that. It was only when someone mentioned the dividing to keep the colour, that I realised. When I split one, it made a big difference.
Thank you for your reply @Fairygirl, that's helped with tracking down the ID. I think it may be Yellow Wave, similar idea!
Are the raised beds you will be growing your plants in open to the ground below @Stevedaylilly and if so, is the soil of good quality and reasonable depth? These factors will all influence the eventual size of your plants. I have only ever grown one standard plant, a Bay laurel. The trunk has thickened only slightly with time and not grown at all in height. The crown is kept to a preferred size by regular pruning. I wouldn't worry about the trunk thickening, it's part of the plant's natural growing process. A multi-stemmed shrub is likely to be more problematic on restricting its size.
Are the raised beds you will be growing your plants in open to the ground below @Stevedaylilly and if so, is the soil of good quality and reasonable depth? These factors will all influence the eventual size of your plants. I have only ever grown one standard plant, a Bay laurel. The trunk has thickened only slightly with time and not grown at all in height. The crown is kept to a preferred size by regular pruning. I wouldn't worry about the trunk thickening, it's part of the plant's natural growing process. A multi-stemmed shrub is likely to be more problematic on restricting its size.
Hi Yes they will raised beds and the top soil that was put in was good quality as I sourced it my self prior to the new landscaping work on my garden Thanks for the advice on the half standard sizing
It's also about getting the drainage right in a raised bed. They do tend to drain more readily anyway, which is why they're so useful in wet areas if you want plants that need sharper drainage. Is it something more structural you're looking for @Stevedaylilly? I'm guessing that as you wanted the phormiums. There will be plenty of alternatives if you can give us an idea of the sort of look you'd like - colours, sizes etc, as well as aspect - ie hours of sun/shade. I was going to suggest something like Pieris if your soil isn't too alkaline. Very easy, can be pruned and shaped if you fancy it, they have changing colour of foliage - new growth is red, and you get the flowers too. There are also variegtaed ones.
I lost the Y. Flags I had in that winter @Plantminded. Too much for them to cope with. I lost the dark ones I had too. Might look at getting another dark one. I had 'Blackadder' for years, which was mainly because we love the programme! You don't often see it though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I took this pic today - it's coming on fairly well, considering how little there was last summer. The areas it recovered in were all the bits against the timber. The bits behind that [right back to where that pot is] all died.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I took this pic today - it's coming on fairly well, considering how little there was last summer. The areas it recovered in were all the bits against the timber. The bits behind that [right back to where that pot is] all died.
Posts
Decided to bit the bullet and will be removing all the Phormuims from my garden as a) I don’t what type they are and b) I haven’t a clue what size they will eventually grow.
This is why these Phormuim in my garden are so important because if they are oversized then it will spoil the look of the new garden based on the spacing and other plants in the garden
I have now decided to go for half standard Photinia Pink Marble. Could anyone please confirm as,in my garden, size of plants matter, what height they would eventually grow. The half standard size of the plant I am considering buying is 1mr single trunk with 40cm x 40cm top foliage so existing height will be 1.40m. How do I keep it that height ?
Any advice will be welcome and thanks again
I can't advise on the Photinia - they never look healthy here due to our climate -the standards in particular, but they're usually grafted, so your choice would stay at around the height you describe, depending on how large you leave the tops to grow. You'd be trimming the top each year, but could allow them to spread more if you wanted. You wouldn't be able to have any impact on the trunk maturing - that's how it works with any tree or shrub grown with a single trunk.
Sorry @Plantminded - I didn't see your query. I can't really say what it is, because many phormiums change over time if they aren't divided. Yellow Flag can certainly look like that. I had two of them in matching containers, and they lost their variegation quite noticeably because of that. It was only when someone mentioned the dividing to keep the colour, that I realised. When I split one, it made a big difference.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you for the offer on the C. Delight and thats very kind of you
Thank you also for the advice the half standard Photinia as the information on the internet is somewhat confusing on how to keep them at the existing height that you plant them.
My major concern is the thickening of the trunk over the years that may possibly ruin the appearance of the plant
Hi
Based on my last comment, is there a half standard plant that anyone can suggest that based on it normal height will not thicken the trunk I’m just assuming that the average Photinia eventual height would be approximately 2m. If I but a plant in half standard form that has an eventual height 1.20m then wouldn’t the trunk thickness remain the same over the years
Again, thanks for any advice on this
Yes they will raised beds and the top soil that was put in was good quality as I sourced it my self prior to the new landscaping work on my garden
Thanks for the advice on the half standard sizing
Is it something more structural you're looking for @Stevedaylilly? I'm guessing that as you wanted the phormiums. There will be plenty of alternatives if you can give us an idea of the sort of look you'd like - colours, sizes etc, as well as aspect - ie hours of sun/shade.
I was going to suggest something like Pieris if your soil isn't too alkaline. Very easy, can be pruned and shaped if you fancy it, they have changing colour of foliage - new growth is red, and you get the flowers too. There are also variegtaed ones.
I lost the Y. Flags I had in that winter @Plantminded. Too much for them to cope with. I lost the dark ones I had too. Might look at getting another dark one. I had 'Blackadder' for years, which was mainly because we love the programme! You don't often see it though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What’s its name ?