I am a great fan of these but they are often misused, e.g. in municipal planting schemes. If left un-pruned they do get 'leggy' i.e. they become small trees...probably the most elegant and architectural small evergreen tree it is possible to grow in the mainland UK climate. Silver grey bark and a beautiful structure. They're not bombproof and black marks on the leaves are a sign of a physiological disorder caused by lack of nutrients in the soil. To solve the leaf drop problem (like all evergreens, holly, osmanthus, etc etc they do not have one annual leaf drop but lose leaves gradually, over the whole year) underplant. My mother's garden had the best combination--Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety' in a circle out to the leaf canopy. The Geranium is bomb-proof (for the shade underneath the canopy) they flower at the same time, and look fine the rest of the year.
The Red Robins in my front garden are very poor.However in my back garden they are thriving .Have tried feeding them ,cutting them back - nothing seems to make any difference .
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I am a great fan of these but they are often misused, e.g. in municipal planting schemes. If left un-pruned they do get 'leggy' i.e. they become small trees...probably the most elegant and architectural small evergreen tree it is possible to grow in the mainland UK climate. Silver grey bark and a beautiful structure. They're not bombproof and black marks on the leaves are a sign of a physiological disorder caused by lack of nutrients in the soil. To solve the leaf drop problem (like all evergreens, holly, osmanthus, etc etc they do not have one annual leaf drop but lose leaves gradually, over the whole year) underplant. My mother's garden had the best combination--Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety' in a circle out to the leaf canopy. The Geranium is bomb-proof (for the shade underneath the canopy) they flower at the same time, and look fine the rest of the year.
The Red Robins in my front garden are very poor.However in my back garden they are thriving .Have tried feeding them ,cutting them back - nothing seems to make any difference .
Can anybody help.
Thank you
Thank you Verdun