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happydays28

Assistance Please : Photinia Fraseri Compacta Trees ( Red Robin)

happydays28
5 years ago





Hi Everybody,

I need your valuable advice please, I intend to grow Photinia Red Robin Trees in my garden ( 5/6 feet tall ) as it is an evergreen tree. I was planning on planting these trees close to my garden fence and wanted to know if the roots of these trees may damage the fence. I have also read that this tree can shed a lot of leaves and possibly ruin the lawn. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Many thanks

Comments (5)

  • Jonathan
    5 years ago
    I had these at a previous house and they are perfect for what you want and quiet easy to look after.
    I would plant them 50cm from the fence, 1.2m apart and feed them like mad in the first two years.
    Two extra things- although evergreen they do shed leaves throughout the year- there is one particular time they do drop more (I forget late spring?) - for most of the year the mower will pick up stray leaves but there is a two week period where they will drop more and you will have to rake them up.
    Secondly they thrive if pruned well- don’t just take a trimmer to the outside- they will start to grow spindly. There is lots of advice online but generally:-
    Start pruning the year after planting.
    Prune spring or summer but not later
    Pruning is good because it encourages more red leaves so you can do it more than once a year.
    Always cut off stems with brown spots on the leaves.
    Cut out any bracken in the centre of the plant to encourage new growth.
    If you are pruning a branch don’t take off more than a third of the length.
  • Gabby Wong
    5 years ago
    We’re thinking of getting these as well, but hoping to grow them taller, I worry slightly about them getting out of hand on the neighbours side of the fence, but I guess that’ll be the same regardless of what we plant.
  • rachelmidlands
    5 years ago
    Here’s a good site that should tell you all you need: https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/shrub/photinia-red-robin.php The roots are not as invasive as other species so shouldn’t affect anything but plant them 1-2ft away from the fence.
  • Sonia
    5 years ago
    Great advice here. Photinia is actually a shrub, not a tree, which can grow to 10-15 feet but can easily be pruned to keep it smaller. The ones shaped more like a lollipop have been pruned that way by the nursery and do cost more. However I think you can copy that shape by removing the lower branches to make them look more like a tree. I think they are particularly beautiful and are very popular. Not sure how far the roots spread but the fact it’s a shrub and not a tree means hopefully they will behave themselves!

    I’ve bought plants from Crocus online and the plants are excellent quality.
  • happydays28
    Original Author
    5 years ago

    Jonathan, rachelmidlands & forzaitalia - I'm grateful for this great advice.


    Thank you all.


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