Photinia Fraseri, spring dig

[just.wing.it]

I have two of these in my back yard, Photinia Fraseri, aka Red Tip Photinia. This one was cut back before I moved in, but has survived and grown slowly since I've been here (4 yrs). The plants on either side of it grow vigorously, and block the light to it. One is another red tip and the other is a small Abelia, each reach over into the small amount of light back there and block this one. So I'm going to dig it up in early spring and go from there.... This will need lots of time, and some future carving, I know.
Wondering if anyone has experience with these plants, and all suggestions and comments, welcome.

 

[Vin]

No experience with Photinia but other than the lack of taper it doesn't look like you can go wrong with the one in the photo. I'd jump all over it if it were mine. We used to have them all over the place down here but they were pretty much wiped out many years ago by some kind of blight.

Abelia are a bit finicky. I have a couple and killed a few (or more). The ones that I've killed all died after pruning. I haven't figured them out yet but I'm not giving up.

 

[just.wing.it]

No experience with Photinia but other than the lack of taper it doesn't look like you can go wrong with the one in the photo. I'd jump all over it if it were mine. We used to have them all over the place down here but they were pretty much wiped out many years ago by some kind of blight.

Abelia are a bit finicky. I have a couple and killed a few (or more). The ones that I've killed all died after pruning. I haven't figured them out yet but I'm not giving up.

Yeah, not much for taper, but future carving, and possibly growing, might fix that. I toyed with the idea of digging up the Abelia. I've chopped that thing back every year and each year,it grows long bowing branches that block this photinia. Even though the Abelia grows vigorously, due to the limited light back here, it's lucky to bloom one flower on each branch.

 

[Vin]

Long bowing wiry branches is exactly how Abelia grows. They are tough to tame but I'm working on it. Mine flower profusely but they are in full sun. Your Abelia sounds like it's well established. I would wait to hear from someone that has collected them before digging it up. However, I would think an early spring dig would produce the best result.

 

[just.wing.it]

Long bowing wiry branches is exactly how Abelia grows. They are tough to tame but I'm working on it. Mine flower profusely but they are in full sun. Your Abelia sounds like it's well established. I would wait to hear from someone that has collected them before digging it up. However, I would think an early spring dig would produce the best result.

Maybe I'll take both! I want to plant more azaleas back there.

 

[fredman]

Man that Photinia is a strong grower. When I moved into my house there were 5 big trees (7 inch) in row. They were moving around in the ground from the wind. Thin layer top soil with river stone bed underneath. I cut them down to 4ft height. Now got a lovely hedge. I took a 3inch piece that was half dry (lying around for more than a month) and used it as a stake. Driven it into the ground and it started budding soon after....

 

[just.wing.it]

Man that Photinia is a strong grower. When I moved into my house there were 5 big trees (7 inch) in row. They were moving around in the ground from the wind. Thin layer top soil with river stone bed underneath. I cut them down to 4ft height. Now got a lovely hedge. I took a 3inch piece that was half dry (lying around for more than a month) and used it as a stake. Driven it into the ground and it started budding soon after....

Wow!, cool. That's kinda what I've experienced so far, but more with the other one ( not pictured). Even in low light it grows like mad.

 

[Vin]

Glossy Abelia Grandiflora:





Has a long way to go but I managed to repot this one about a year and a half ago without killing it.