Photinia Red Robin

[Mike313]

Hi folks,
I bought my house about two years ago. My rear garden soil appears to be a bit infertile as, when I cut back the overgrown garden, you could see that the grass and wild plants are sparse despite the garden not being cultivated for a decade.
I have planted a Photinia ‘Red Robin’ hedge, along one side, for privacy about October last year.
I bought the plants from a reputable supplier and they came rooted in small cube-shaped pots of soil. When I planted them I dug out a hole about 15 inches diameter and 12 inches deep. I took the plant from the pot, loosened the peripheral roots and dusted the root ball with a rooting compound. The plant was then planted in the hole in an equal mixture of topsoil and compost, into which I had added a handful of an organic fertiliser.
All good I thought.
They seemed to take off well initially, but then seemed to stand still, probably since the start of Spring this year.
Fast forward to this week when I was weeding around the hedge plants.
In several cases, when pulling some weeds, the Photinia plants appeared very loose in the soil. With no effort at all, I was able to take the plant out of the ground because it had developed no roots into the surrounding soil. The roots were, in several cases, still pretty much within the small cube of soil that they arrived in.
What is happening? Am I right in thinking that the roots should be showing more development? What should I do?
Just to add, I have been watering as per the suppliers guidelines.

 

[oneeye]

Friend, you really need to keep the soil around the plant wetter for the roots to travel. Water under the drip-line more often and keep the soil around the plants aerated with a hand cultivator between waterings. In order for compost and organic fertilizer to work it must be wet enough to leach so the plant can use it.

 

[dirty hands]

I have a couple flowering plum trees doing the same thing.

As long as the plants are growing they should be good. It can take a couple years for some plants to develope a strong root system.

With all the nutrients so close to the roots they probably don't need to grow much at first.

 

[Meadowlark]

@Mike313 ...thinking about this a little differently.

Can you possibly describe what the soil is like outside the 15-inch diameter hole you dug for them? Is it possible that the soil is heavy, compacted soil?

The reason I ask is because that could be the problem...i.e. trapping water around those roots which can stunt any new root formation. Waterlogged roots are deprived of oxygen.

Photinia are especially sensitive to heavy, compacted, or clay soils that stay wet. The original hole could be acting like a bowl stunting new root formation.

A possibility to consider which would fully explain the lack of root development.

 

[dirty hands]

Meadowlark would the plant show signs of that?

 

[Meadowlark]

Meadowlark would the plant show signs of that?

Not necessarily, certainly not for some time. It can do well in that little bowl for a while... But eventually the leaves will wilt even though there is plenty of water and the plant will be lost.

 

[dirty hands]

I worry about my plums. They appear to be doing good but 2 years of them being staked and they still cant hold themselves up.

I wonder if its how they are grown in pots before we get them. Or is it because we feed them to much at planting.

 

[Meadowlark]

I wonder if its how they are grown in pots before we get them. Or is it because we feed them to much at planting.

Generally, it is neither of those, but it is the surrounding heavy soil that effectively traps the roots and causes resulting problems. I've seen it many times.

 

[Mike313]

@Mike313 ...thinking about this a little differently.

Can you possibly describe what the soil is like outside the 15-inch diameter hole you dug for them? Is it possible that the soil is heavy, compacted soil?

I think you may have a point there. The soil is heavy clay.
Since I posted I decided to gently remove the plants, one by one, dig a bigger hole and loosen the soil in the sides and bottom as much as I can, then replant. Time will tell. I’ve done this with 14 plants, I still have about 32 to do.
While the soil I removed was damp (due to my watering) it wasn’t waterlogged.

 

[Mike313]

Thanks everyone for your advice. It is much appreciated.

 

[Meadowlark]

Thanks everyone for your advice. It is much appreciated.

Would appreciate a followup post down the road @Mike313

It isn't the best time of year to do this with a high probability of success but based on what you found I agree it is necessary.

 

[Mike313]

Will do.