Trimming a photinia - Ask Extension
I am attaching 2 pictures of my Photinia bush. I would like to prune it, but I don't know when to prune it. I would like to take about 2 feet off the ...
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Trimming a photinia #173726
Asked April 07, 2014, 5:14 PM EDT
I am attaching 2 pictures of my Photinia bush. I would like to prune it, but I don't know when to prune it. I would like to take about 2 feet off the top and make it about 1 foot narrower all the way around. Can I do that all at once without killing it and when should I do it? the pics were taken today. It is about 30 years old. Thank you so much for your help in advance. Valeri and Carol
Jackson County Oregon
Expert Response
Most information I found about pruning photinia says to do it in winter, during dormancy. But the website for the Missouri Botanical Gardens says prune in spring after red growth begins to fade in order to encourage additional new red growth. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e459
Photinia is at its most beautiful about now with its new red growth. When that begins to fade, prune back enough to leave some leaves on the plant, otherwise it will look like an ugly skeleton of a plant. I suggest you then do a more aggressive pruning during the winter dormancy period.
Photinia is at its most beautiful about now with its new red growth. When that begins to fade, prune back enough to leave some leaves on the plant, otherwise it will look like an ugly skeleton of a plant. I suggest you then do a more aggressive pruning during the winter dormancy period.
