Ideal Soil for Photinia Fraseri Red Robin Hedges
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years ago
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Help me identify this hedge
Comments (7)Wildflower.org has recommendations for native plants for all areas of the U.S. I've used natives extensively, and I recommend them very highly. Where I am, local nurseries mostly carry crape myrtle and loropetalum and non-native azaleas. I was fortunate in that I could dig small trees and shrubs out of my woods and transplant them (once I started learning what things were), and wildflowers growing in the ditches. Probably the only person not in snow country who carries a shovel in my car trunk, lol. Get permission to dig on "waste" land, though. Everything is owned by somebody. I figure since the ditches are mowed by the local gov, *I* own those. Here is a link that might be useful: Recommended natives by state/area...See MorePhotinia: Pruning to keep a natural shape
Comments (8)It would help to know the orientation of the wall in order to recommend substitutes for the Photinia. Photinia fraseri grows too fast and gets too big to be a best choice for a spot where you don't really want to have to prune on a regular basis. I'd suggest you look at slower growing shrubs that have some architectural qualities to the structure, but won't overwhelm the spot. If water quality issues aren't a concern, a Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset', Leucadendron 'Blush' is more manageable size wise, or one of the similar reddish foliage cultivars could look good there. Isopogon formosus is another upright shrubby protea family member with very showy flowers in spring, as well as ornamental foliage. One of the Adenanthos such as A. sericia could also look good here, or some tree type Aloes such as A. marlothii or A. ferox, or A. speciosa. Alyogyne huegelii and Prostanthera ovalifolia would be other upright shrub choices with seasonal flowering. If you like the idea of foliage color, things like Astelia chathamica of one of the upright growing Phormiums such as P. 'Guardsman' might be good choices. Not all of these shrubs will do equally well in full sun or more shade, and some have issues with needing good quality irrigation water in southern California gardens. For my money, Photinia fraseri is just too commonly planted and somewhat boring to use as a feature shrub in a front yard garden, and I would never recommend it for such a setting, aside from the pruning issues. Some of the dwarfer growing Pittosporum tenuifolium cultivars such as as 'Marjorie Channon' or 'Silver Sheen' are quite popular for slower growing foundation shrubs here in coastal northern California, and have soft billowy foliage characteristics that lend themselves easily to being kept sheared but with a softer look....See MoreHedge for swimming pool landscaping
Comments (23)I am getting mixed feedback from several nurseries ive visited. Some say that the roots of Podocarpus Gracilior will not create a problem for the pool & retaining wall IF the hedge is trimmed every other year or so to keep it under control. Some say that EVENTUALLY the roots may create a problem for the adjoining pool & retaining wall since it IS a tree. Anybody out there has had an experience w Podocarpus Gracilior as a HEDGE? I am also considering a Photenia hedge. Any feedback on the cleanliness, bees, roots? Need a tall (at least 10 ft) privacy hedge to plant in a 5 ft wide planter located between pool & retaining wall...can't wait for it to grow tall since the retaining wall is only 4ft tall & is facing the street providing full visibility of our backyard :( TIA for taking the time to share ur experience....See MoreAny Adaptation Of Gritty Mix or 5:1:1 Suitable for Photinia Red Robin?
Comments (11)I am happy to address some of your issues but the Container Gardening forum is not likely to get you much additional input. What is going on with your shrubs has nothing to do with any issues pertaining to container gardening or using or replacing with container soil mixes. If you find my comments not fully helpful, I'd strongly suggest you repost this in the Shrubs or even the Soils and Compost forum. Redtip photinias, Photinia x fraseri, is known to be tolerant of clay soils - in fact it is included on lists of plants recommended for clay. So I doubt the issues with your plants are confined to their being planted in clay. Unless the clay does not drain adequately. And as you indicate the hedge is established for privacy, I am assuming they have been in place for some time so you would have noticed drainage problems - like puddling or standing water for periods of time - before now. It is seldom practical or cost effective to remove and replace soil. And typically unnecessary as well. One amends the soil, adding to existing soil whatever amendments/soil additives may be necessary to affect improvement. With clay, that usually means adding the generous quantities of organic matter I mentioned in my previous post, to both lighten or loosen the soil and improve drainage. Using these products as a topdressing can help but it is not as efficient a method or as fast as incorporating the OM into the existing soil. Unfortunately, that means you need to remove the current hedge to do so. As an aside, if you were to replace the soil, you would need to do the same thing, so I am assuming you are not adverse to that. FWIW, if that's the plan, I'd consider some alternatives to the redtips, perhaps even one of the California native plants commonly used for hedging, as they tend to be well-adapted to both your climate (and drought) and native soil conditions, including pH.. And will generally have less issues than the redtips, which are plagued by some serious disease issues that are significantly reducing their suitability for landscape plantings in much of the US. Your plants are definitely stressed - the mites and the chlorosis are clear indications. The clay may or may not have much of a bearing on this - it's almost impossible to say for certain without seeing the plants and the site in person. It could just as well be that these particular shrubs are just not well suited to your situation. One thing I would suggest is to bring in a horticulturist for an onsite consultation - your extension service or better garden center should be able to give you some referrals. These folks are experienced and skilled in evaluating plants for both siting and cultural issues as well as diagnosing insects, diseases and nutrient problems. I know these sorts of folks exist as this is a significant part of what I do for a living :-) If you do care to repost on another, more relevant forum, please include photos of the entire hedge and at least one plant in its entirety, as well as any detail photos. The more we know about the situation, as limited as that might be just via photos, the better the advice you will receive. And include exactly where you are located and how these plants are watered and the frequency....See Morefloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UKwestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoWayne Danielson
6 years agoEmbothrium
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
5 years agowestes Zone 9b California SF Bay
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
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