Reliant Robin

Q When should I to prune my Photinia ‘Red Robin’, to encourage it to flower and to maintain its spherical shape?

Ann Best, Sussex

A What a splendid Photinia ‘Red Robin’! Unfortunately, it won’t flower if you keep it trimmed. The best way to encourage it to bloom is to refrain from pruning. Then, shoots that form this year will hopefully flower next year.

I suggest that you leave it unpruned for a year or two. It will then please you with impressive heads of white blossom.