The lovely red new growth on my plant is bronzing now but most of the older leaves are reddening or have spots on them and falling off. I cut it back quite hard and fed it again yesterday but I have a lot of branches without any leaves on at all. I've been looking around at other Photinia red robins and many seem a bit scraggly with lots of leaves on the ground.
Not sure what to do really - watch and wait I guess!
Not that I'm an expert on this shrub but having one in the garden I notice that if you leave it to grow it will put on a lot of new leaf as it spreads out, but the older leaves that are left in the centre of the plant fall off. In the end, although it looks like quite a dense shrub, because of all the leaves that you can see on the outside, if you poke your head into the shrub, it will be practically leaf free and all you see is a lot of bare wood and stems. You can prune these shrubs hard back and in most cases, after about 2/3 weeks, it will start to put on new leaf, and within 3 months, it could be back to where you started. It is very prolific on putting on new leaf. It probably needs a good trim at least twice a year - March and late September/ early October.
Despairing with my red robin standard. For the last couple of years has been straggly, now only sparse red leaves, no dark green foliage as shrubs in neighbours gardens.
Its approx 7ft, wondering what the best option is at this time of year, whether to lop or lift.
Any suggestions? It's in a west facing garden quite close to a 3ft wall which may be the problem.
They seem to be a bit tricky Scarlet, they seem to turn up their toes out of the blue according to many reports on the forum.
Has it been getting too dry? They need water but they also need good drainage. The wall might be preventing them getting enough water uptake, especially if you don't get a lot of rainfall.
What else is around it?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yours looks a lot like mine did last year Scarlet. After advice from this thread I pruned it back hard and its looking a lot more bushy. Also improved the soil in the bed with lots of manure and it seems to be much happier altogether. Loads of new red growth emerging this spring
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Mine too Carolyn
The lovely red new growth on my plant is bronzing now but most of the older leaves are reddening or have spots on them and falling off. I cut it back quite hard and fed it again yesterday but I have a lot of branches without any leaves on at all. I've been looking around at other Photinia red robins and many seem a bit scraggly with lots of leaves on the ground.
Not sure what to do really - watch and wait I guess!
Not that I'm an expert on this shrub but having one in the garden I notice that if you leave it to grow it will put on a lot of new leaf as it spreads out, but the older leaves that are left in the centre of the plant fall off. In the end, although it looks like quite a dense shrub, because of all the leaves that you can see on the outside, if you poke your head into the shrub, it will be practically leaf free and all you see is a lot of bare wood and stems. You can prune these shrubs hard back and in most cases, after about 2/3 weeks, it will start to put on new leaf, and within 3 months, it could be back to where you started. It is very prolific on putting on new leaf. It probably needs a good trim at least twice a year - March and late September/ early October.
That's reassuring - thanks Tim. I shall remain hopeful as it's in direct eyeline from my patio door and has looked lovely with the new growth!
Despairing with my red robin standard. For the last couple of years has been straggly, now only sparse red leaves, no dark green foliage as shrubs in neighbours gardens.
Its approx 7ft, wondering what the best option is at this time of year, whether to lop or lift.
Any suggestions? It's in a west facing garden quite close to a 3ft wall which may be the problem.
Hi Scarletfloss
Could we have a photo please, and some details of the soil and any feeding/watering regime?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They seem to be a bit tricky Scarlet, they seem to turn up their toes out of the blue according to many reports on the forum.
Has it been getting too dry? They need water but they also need good drainage. The wall might be preventing them getting enough water uptake, especially if you don't get a lot of rainfall.
What else is around it?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Afraid it's horizontal, it has grown towards the wall. The soil I suppose is quite dry and does tend the be heavy.
Yours looks a lot like mine did last year Scarlet. After advice from this thread I pruned it back hard and its looking a lot more bushy. Also improved the soil in the bed with lots of manure and it seems to be much happier altogether. Loads of new red growth emerging this spring
It does look a bit sad
I think hard weather can make them a bit like that too.
You can only try a similar approach to Abby's - fingers crossed it will come away again
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks for your comments, decision taken. A good prune and feed.
I think soil improvement for the whole of my garden is going to be a must????