Pruning Photinia Red Robin and Portuguese Laurel

spiracles · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 19 Apr 2015 Posts: 28

Would this be a good time to prune Photinia and Portuguese Laurel plants making up a newly planted hedge?

They were planted a year ago (potted) and I want to make sure they thicken out.

If so, how much do I prune? Do I cut the woody stems back to the ground or just the tips of leaves?

Thanks

Greengage · Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:03 pm Post subject:

Prune to shape i would not cut the leaves as they will just die back and fall off anyway, Prune back to a pair of buds with a loppers and when it becomes established you can use a shears, It will look tatty when cut but ill improve over time.

spiracles · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 19 Apr 2015 Posts: 28

Thanks for your reply. I thought I would give you a few pictures.

They were planted last April.

I want to make sure the hedge will thicken up over time. But I'm terrfied to prune as I'm worried I will butcher them.

They were bought potted and I was advised to let them alone the first year, and now the year is up I want to make sure I prune properly from now on.

Is there a bud at the base of every leaf, or does it have to be a bud on it's own like this one?

Greengage · Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:31 pm Post subject:

RE: buds, If you pull off a leaf and stem you will leave a leaf scar nothing will grow from the scar but dormant buds below will be stimulated into growth.

Its difficult to see the pics clearly but they look healthy plants, I would not prune this year but let them grow on and put on more extension growth, I would allow a strong leader and some side shots to develop and grow to the height I want the eventual hedge. I would let it grow a little higher than required then prune back to the height I eventually want it, Any stray outward growing shoots I would prune back now so that is being trained to shape. Just cutting the leaves is not a good idea as they will just fall off and wither. While it is an evergreen hedge if keeps replacing its leaves throughout the year and you will see these old leaves on the ground so dont worry this is natural also keep the grass from growing around the roots and make sure they are watered, They will look grand if they survive a drought but with trees and hedges it is four years later you will see the effects of lack of water as it takes time to work its way through the system and they use up stored energy. Hope this helps.