Question From:
Carol Humphries in Mittagong, Sydney New South Wales
Nature of problem:
Existing hedge
Type of Plant (if known):
Photinia glabra ‘Rubens’
Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself):
None just too big
Soil Type (e.g. sandy, clay or loam) OR Potting Mix Type:
Loam
How often do you water the plant:
Only in the summer
How many hours of sunlight does the plant get each day:
8
How long since you planted it:
Many years
Have you fertilised? If so, with what and when:
I use a high nitrogen fertiliser in spring
Is the plant indoors or outdoors:
Outdoors
Is the plant in a pot or in the ground:
Ground
What other treatments have you given the plant:
Fertilizer
Upload photo if available:
Other Comments:
Can I hard prune this Photinia hedge, when I bought the house it was smaller and compact but now getting larger and sparse in the Centre, the hedgers seem to just clip over the top and it’s very big, I’m a bit reluctant to cut into the bare wood one the inside unless I ask first. It’s quiet old we have been here 8 years and it was reasonable size then. We have cold winters so wasn’t thinking about doing it till spring. Is it a good idea to reduce it by 1/3.
Regards Carol Humphries
Answer:
Smart Question Carol. Yes you can butcher photinias very severely and they will bush up quickly. With regular watering and fertilising, full density should be achieved within 18 months. You can reduce them by one third, but harder pruning is fine as well. The ideal time to do it is either in the last week of Winter or the first week of Spring, but any time from September to March is OK. Don
