I disagree that this is a good time. In your climate, you should wait until spring is securely in your area. Actually, I would think that this is an inappropriate time in any temperate climate! The existing foliage provides a freeze and frost buffer for your plant. And if you are experiencing a warm winter like so many of us are, pruning could actually force a flush of growth when you least want it.....NOW! Red Tips don't have several flushes of growth unless encouraged to do so, and then will readily oblige. This would not be a good thing in February (in your area). Pruning is, in fact, a growth PRODUCING act. If you cut your plant back, you may actually see an increase in growth, making it even more ungainly. Truthfully, one of the best and most successful methods of getting an over grown shrub back into control is by doing a proper 'renovation or rejuvenation' pruning. Though seemingly drastic, it almost always results in something FAR more desirable than hacking a shrub back to the size you think you want. You can then train and properly maintain that new growth into something attractive for many years to come. Red Tips are excellent candidates for rejuvenation pruning, by the way. You can expect to see 3 to 4 feet of beautiful new growth the very first year. The secret is in cutting the plants all the way back to the ground....6 inch stumps at the most. This should be done cleanly and evenly in the spring. Do NOT fertilize that year. Here is a link that might be useful: Just a bit of information about pruning

I absolutely love this shrub (Photinia x fraserei "red tip") Locally, it is usually not sold around me (or grown in gardens). Don't think growers realize how cold hardy they really are (should be perfectly hardy at least into 6b). Several years ago, I purchased one I happened across one in a local nursery. This shrub just took off in the ground--unbelievely fast growth! It went from maybe a foot to over nine feet in a matter of a few years despite regular pruning and without fertilizing! It grow WIDE horizontally as well with foliage all the way down to the ground. I pruned it fairly heavily every spring and again (more lighter) in the summer. In fact, I recently moved into another house and wanted to replace all the half-dead, old privet hedges. I have planted a row of Photinia along side the privet with the intention of creating a formal hedge of photinia. I have never seen any leaf spot on it (nor has it ever shown any winter burn). Though I don't live in the South, humid and wet weather here is common. If leaf spotting is a concern, I wonder if you could spray something on it to discourage the problem. Good luck!

The fungicide for photinia leaf spot serves a protective purpose. In other words, it protects new growth from becoming infested. I'd say that the nurseryman you spoke with was being rather dramatic when he said the trees would die in several years. Here in the PNW, photinia are affected every year. And I would suspect the NW infections are more extensive thn those in your region, simply because our climate is more wet than yours. Our photinia trees/shrubs live many years in spite of the problem, although I must admit that they can look rather nasty if in a site favorable to infetion.. In OR, the suggested sprays for homeowner use are any of these: Daconil; Hi-Yield Vegetable, Flower and Ornamental Fungicide; Immunox; Systemic Fungicide (ferti-lome); or Rose Pride Funginex. Because the trees are so important to you, consider hiring a certified arborist to spray because they have equipment you don't. Look for a certified arborist in the Yellow Pages under the heading of Trees or Tree care. Companies that have a certified arborist say so in their ad. The appropriate time to spray is in early spring when the new shoots are developing. In oher words, protect new growth from becoming infected. Also useful for limiting infection are good air circulation (thinning the trees might help); keeping the leaves as dry as possible; and full sun exposure. Also remove and destroy affected leaves.

.it's a perfect example of the wrong plant being selected for the site. ==>>> not really how i look at it ... ... its more of proof that someone planted for the size it was in the pot.. and had no concept that the darn things.. never really stop growing ... frankly.. really.. kill them.. and plant your own mistake .. or ... in the alternative ... learn how to prune on it... with the understanding that if you butcher it... see above... if this were out in the back of the 4th acre out.. i would enjoy the process of seeing what i could do about this... i am positive.. i would not like a renovation project out front.. where my neighbors would mock me generously ... google this term.. for general information on the process : REJUVENATION PRUNING OF SHRUBS ... the process is general .. rather than plant specific ... and you might even find some youtubes ... properly sited.. it should have been 15 to 20 feet from the house .... ken