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How do i grow a tree from a plant.
Hi, I want to make a Photinia 'Red Robin' tree which I eventually plan to pleach for my small overlooked garden, but isnt it usually a bush. How do I turn it from this into a tree. I would also like to make a buxus standard, can anybody help clear up how this is done or even if its possible for me to do this.
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basically you want to make a standard out of a bush,
choose one strong stem and remove the others and any side branches till it looks like a trunk, slowly remove the side branches year on year till you get to the desired height,
making sure you don't remove too many otherwise you get the lollipop effect!
Thanks! so it is literally the same plant just grown differently. Should I tie up the stem I want to keep to stop it becoming bent?
you can do, but the less you can support it the more the stem will strengthen itself. eventually is shouldn't need any support. but it might need extra protection in winter as it'll be more exposed to frosts.
See here - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=155 and here - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=587 for some helpful info.
great thanks for all your help, I decided to go with Lime trees after the link you sent obelixx because apparently its the best tree to pleach. I ordered 10 1m tall plants to start out so I will be in for a bit of a wait before I can do anything with them.
Happy to help and I think lime is an excellent choice. Lots of useful info about box and topiary on the RHS website too.
A Buxus standard? You are better to buy one as they will take a very long time to grow up like that outside in the UK. Photinia grow fast so you can get a good looking standard shape tree within 10-15 years