Photinias are hardy evergreen shrubs that are appreciated in many regions for their ability to grow into colourful and attractive hedges without much effort on the part of the gardener.

Soil that is light, friable, moderately fertile, and free-draining is best for photinias in containers. Place the pot in a shallow tray / bowl of water for half an hour sothat it absorbs a good amount of water but the top part is notwater-logged.Lift the container and hold it horizontally and at the same time, try to prise out the soil ball with a spade and push it outward through the drainage holes.

Be sure that the soil line of the stems is the same as it was in the old container, or just a tad higher. How Many Can You Plant Per Pot? It is fully hardy in almost all areas of the UK withstandingtemperatures down to -12°C. In protected position, it is hardy to afew degrees lower. See the comments question / answer section (comment datedApril 2018) at the end of this article if your Red Robin has lost many of itsleaves during a particularly cold winter. It can be planted all year long if the soil is not frozen and youcan water well when conditions are dry. Mid March to April and midSeptember to October are the best times to plant this shrub. Dogs Trust does not list Photinia Red Robin as being poisonous to dogs. The are indications however that it can cause problems with grazing animals such as horses and cows. We have noticed that it is the shaded side of plants which are most affected.The above photo shows the sun side of a Red Robin which is totally unaffected byleaf spot. The shade side was affected, but only to a minor degree.Prepare a mix of garden soil with added grit combined with organic compost and well-rotted manure and blend the two mixes in approximately a 7:3 ratio. When established a Photinia Red Robin will look after itself. It rarelyneeds watering except in severe drought and will grow quite happily onaverage ground without the need of additional feeds. It will need pruningonce or twice a year to keep it in shape and to size. It depends on the variety, as while several varieties attain manageable sizes of up to 2m in height and about 1.5m in spread, several other varieties grow to over 5m and some of these have a fast growth rate to boot. Red Robins are easy to propagate and the chances of success, even for very amateur gardeners, are very high. The following guidelines will ensure the best outcome: For younger plants up to two years old, water if conditions become dry. Atwice yearly feed with blood, fish and bone in spring and autumn will help it toestablish a good root system. Keep the area around the base of the plant freefrom weeds and grass.

For those of you who prefer a small shrub then pruning can be done any timebetween March and mid July. We wouldn’t advise pruning after late July becausethe young shoots which appear after pruning may well be soft and easily damagedby early frosts. We would not prune these shrubs until they reach 3 or moreyears old. Photinias are commonly grown in open ground, but you might also be wondering if you can grow these stunning plants in pots. Can You Grow Photinia In Pots?Even a photinia that is expected to grow to a relatively modest height and spread, if grown in a container, will require annual pruning for size and shape. Potted Photinia Varieties Follow the steps below to ensure your Photinia Red Robin is planted correctly and in the best position: During that time keep the rooted cuttings in a cold greenhouse or outsidein a shaded position out of the way of harsh weather. They may well needwatering, keep the compost slightly moist but not waterlogged. Our suggested routine would be an annual prune in early to mid June when the flowers are dead or dying down. If you prune at this time of year you will be likely to have flowers again the next year.