Is it possible to cut red-tip photinias back to 3 feet?
Mine are too tall and they also have gotten weak. I thought pruning might stimulate them. A: Keeping red-tip photinias cut back below 8 or 10 feet (with their normal size 20 feet high and 15 feet wide) will wear them out. Cutting them back harshly would ruin them. I recommend removing them. The fungal leaf spot that is rampant on red-tip photinias is probably partly to blame for their loss of vigor. There are many plants that would better serve your needs. It’s time to remodel that part of your garden. Q: I have a slope that I’ve covered with monkey grass. How quickly will it grow together? What is the best way to speed that along? A: Monkey grass, aka mondo grass, grows quickly. Apply a high-nitrogen plant food every six to eight weeks this spring, summer and fall. You’ll be amazed at how well it spreads. Of course, how quickly it covers will depend on the soil preparation, how far apart you set the plants and how large they were when planted. I advise planting tennis-ball-sized clump
