The Loquat (Photinia fraseri) "Red Robin" is a distinctive, evergreen topiary, the leaves of which sprout red in spring. Raised as a high trunk, it is a colorful gem with its white flowers and the red berries that develop from them. Many loquat lovers put a plant in a tub on the right and left at the entrance. The plant, which originally comes from New Zealand and can grow up to 3 m high, is not demanding in its care. However, important points must be observed when cutting the tall trunk.
Tip: Soak the root ball in a bucket of water before planting until no more air bubbles appear. The roots have to soak up really well so that they get a good start to growing.
Humus-rich and well-drained soils are preferable for the high-stemmed loquat "Red Robin". When planting in a bucket, you can also mix commercial container potting soil with humus. This is just as well tolerated by the high-stemmed loquat. The soil can be calcareous, alkaline, acidic or neutral. It must just not form waterlogging, as this can cause the roots to rot. In addition, the leaves are then shed prematurely.
Tip: If the high-stemmed loquat is in the bucket, it should always be ensured that the excess water can run off.
You should therefore regularly remove the water from the saucer or place the planter on its feet from the start. These are available in various shapes in stores, sometimes with funny animal motifs.
Tip: Always cut the tall trunk of the medlar with sharp and germ-free garden shears or loppers and always make sure that none of the branches tear.
Because injuries can be the gateway for pathogens. It is best to close larger cuts from the outset with a commercially available wound closure agent that also repels pathogens and fungi.
The common loquat is hardy up to a temperature of -20 ° C. Young plants in the garden and in the tub need winter protection. Pack the plants well in foliage soil, jute sacks or sticks. In addition, you shouldn't expose Red Robin in the bucket so much to the winter sun. It is therefore advisable to overwinter the potted plants indoors at 10 to 15 ° C or completely wrapped up in a sheltered location on the terrace. Remember to water regularly even in winter, but not as often and a little more sparingly than in summer. Standard trees in solitary plants in the garden also have to be watered in winter.
Woods:
Seeds:
You can take the seeds from the berries of your own Photinia fraseri in the tub or garden. It is best to sow them in a so-called cold box or in a cold cold frame and overwinter them there frost-free. Straw mats and styrofoam sheets are suitable as winter protection for the boxes. From May - after the ice saints - you can plant the small plants at their destination.
Cuttings:
Sometimes red robin high stems can be afflicted by apple scabs, aphids or black weevils. Horsetail tea is used as a plant tonic and the leaves that have been infected with apple scab are burned. If the infestation is very severe, it is unavoidable to use a scab control agent. However, you should do as far as possible without chemicals in order not to destroy the natural balance in the garden. The best way to fight aphids is with garlic, nettle, horsetail or neem spray. The black weevil larvae are fought with nematodes that are administered via the irrigation water.
plants
Photinia fraseri is best planted in spring so that the plants can grow well into winter. Ball goods are very suitable for this because they are easier to plant. The planting hole should be 1.5 times the size of the medlar root ball. After digging the planting hole, first fill in a soil mixture loosened with humus before you insert the medallion. Do not plant the high stem too deep. The top edge of the bale must be flush with the surface of the garden bed or the potting soil. Tread the plant substrate firmly and water thoroughly.Tip: Soak the root ball in a bucket of water before planting until no more air bubbles appear. The roots have to soak up really well so that they get a good start to growing.
Location
The high-stemmed loquat likes sunny to partially shaded locations in an area protected from the wind. In shady areas, the bloom and berry development suffers and the foliage does not turn so nicely.floor
Humus-rich and well-drained soils are preferable for the high-stemmed loquat "Red Robin". When planting in a bucket, you can also mix commercial container potting soil with humus. This is just as well tolerated by the high-stemmed loquat. The soil can be calcareous, alkaline, acidic or neutral. It must just not form waterlogging, as this can cause the roots to rot. In addition, the leaves are then shed prematurely.to water
Water the Photinia regularly and abundantly for the first 2 weeks after planting. It is then sufficient if you only water as soon as the surface of the garden soil or the plant substrate in the bucket has dried. It is best to test the moisture of the soil with a finger. If the substrate gets stuck, the soil still has enough moisture. However, when watering, make sure that the soil is not too wet, but also not too dry. Choose the golden mean here.Tip: If the high-stemmed loquat is in the bucket, it should always be ensured that the excess water can run off.
You should therefore regularly remove the water from the saucer or place the planter on its feet from the start. These are available in various shapes in stores, sometimes with funny animal motifs.
Fertilize
It is best to fertilize the loquat in the bucket in spring with a slow release fertilizer or commercially available liquid fertilizer. For high-stemmed medlars planted in the garden, a little compost is sufficient in spring, which is easily worked into the garden soil.Cut
Tall trunks must be regularly cut well, otherwise they will grow back into bushes. To do this, first remove all hanging branches of the medallion, but leave young shoots that branch off from them. Then look at the branches that are still upright but bare. Cut this off at the base. This stimulates the high-stemmed loquat to form fresh, new wood in the following year and the crown becomes more compact. This gives it a beautiful, spherical, aesthetic shape. Do not leave any branches that grow upwards or to the side from the spherical crown. Remove weak wood and transverse shoots from young wood. It is always cut to just above an outward-facing bud.Tip: Always cut the tall trunk of the medlar with sharp and germ-free garden shears or loppers and always make sure that none of the branches tear.
Because injuries can be the gateway for pathogens. It is best to close larger cuts from the outset with a commercially available wound closure agent that also repels pathogens and fungi.
Overwinter
The common loquat is hardy up to a temperature of -20 ° C. Young plants in the garden and in the tub need winter protection. Pack the plants well in foliage soil, jute sacks or sticks. In addition, you shouldn't expose Red Robin in the bucket so much to the winter sun. It is therefore advisable to overwinter the potted plants indoors at 10 to 15 ° C or completely wrapped up in a sheltered location on the terrace. Remember to water regularly even in winter, but not as often and a little more sparingly than in summer. Standard trees in solitary plants in the garden also have to be watered in winter.Plant combinations
As a high trunk, medlars have a tree disc that can be planted, for example, with early bloomers and year-round ground cover such as evergreens or pseudo strawberries. But astilbe, dwarf iris and dwarf columbine are also beautiful plants for underplanting. An equally beautiful arrangement results for the high-stemmed loquat with flowering trees and shrubs in their vicinity.Woods:
- Forsythia
- Cherry laurel
- Pipe bush
- Deutzie
- Scent phlox
- Perennial Marguerite
- Scabiosis
- Knapweed
Multiply
Red robin can be propagated either by seeds, cuttings, or subsidence. Whereby the sinkers are taken from a loquat in the shape of a bush, since the way from the crown to the ground is very long with the high trunk.Seeds:
You can take the seeds from the berries of your own Photinia fraseri in the tub or garden. It is best to sow them in a so-called cold box or in a cold cold frame and overwinter them there frost-free. Straw mats and styrofoam sheets are suitable as winter protection for the boxes. From May - after the ice saints - you can plant the small plants at their destination.
Cuttings:
- cut head or shoot cuttings in summer
- or use the clippings from the topiary
- Cuttings should be slightly lignified
- Shoot cuttings no longer than 15 to 20 cm
- Head cuttings no longer than 8 to 10 cm
- Remove all leaves except for three pairs of leaves
- Insert cuttings up to 3 cm deep into potting soil
- either on the spot or in nursery pots
- Pour lightly and put a plastic bag over it
- Ventilate the plastic bags regularly
- place in a shady spot
- Cultivate in a pot and overwinter frost-free for at least 2 to 3 years
Diseases and pests
Sometimes red robin high stems can be afflicted by apple scabs, aphids or black weevils. Horsetail tea is used as a plant tonic and the leaves that have been infected with apple scab are burned. If the infestation is very severe, it is unavoidable to use a scab control agent. However, you should do as far as possible without chemicals in order not to destroy the natural balance in the garden. The best way to fight aphids is with garlic, nettle, horsetail or neem spray. The black weevil larvae are fought with nematodes that are administered via the irrigation water. The editors' conclusion
The "Red Robin" loquat does not require such demanding care and is very easy to cut. With the annual topiary in June, however, you should make sure that the crown results in a beautiful shape. Red robin as a high trunk is a beautiful specimen plant, but also harmonizes well with perennials, flowering trees and ground cover.Worth knowing about the "Red Robin" loquat in a nutshell
Location and care- The red robin loquat is beautiful to look at all year round. As a high trunk, the plant looks good in a planter.
- But you can also plant a high trunk in the bed. The loquat makes hardly any demands on its location and care.
- It is a popular wood and makes a good specimen plant.
- The red robin loquat can be used well as a topiary. A bullet works best.
- When cut in this way, the plants are best placed in pairs to decorate a house entrance.
- The plant likes a sunny to partially shaded location. The soil should be rich in nutrients.
- Winter protection is recommended for the first two years after planting.
- Depending on the size, such a high trunk costs from around 50 euros.
- The red robin loquat is easy to cut. It is a topiary.
- The best time to cut is just before budding, around March.
- You just cut back the branches, shorten them.
- This will make the shoots thicker and better hold the weight of the plant.
- A regular cut keeps the red robin loquat in shape.
- The branches and twigs do not need to be supported.
- You have to be patient about two years after planting until the loquat really begins to sprout and grow.
- It needs this time to take root properly. After about two years it should also be cut so that the crown is nice and tight.
- The outer branches are cut more strongly than the inner ones.
- Lanterns are also good at sprouting out of old wood, which is why you can't go wrong with cutting. The plant is forgiving of cutting mistakes and will usually sprout again willingly.
- It is best to cut back to one eye (bud) pointing outwards.
Tip: To be on the safe side, cuts that are larger than a 2 euro piece are treated with a wound closure agent, e.g. B. with Malusan. The agent is applied to the cut. It prevents germs, fungi and the like from entering.
