Soils for Red Tip Photinias

Soil Requirements

• The hardy shrub is adapted to nearly all soil types but doesn't grow well in wet or soggy ground. The best growth occurs in fertile and very well-drained soil. Avoid alkaline soils as the plant is not tolerant of salt. Growing in poorly drained soil can lead to root fungal diseases.

Checking Drainage

• The draining capacity of soil refers to the speed at which water moves away from the roots. When water stands in the root zone for extended periods it reduces air flow and suffocates roots. To conduct a drainage test, dig a 16-inch-deep hole and fill it with water. In a rapid draining soil the water will drain in about an hour. If the water drains in a few hours, this indicates a good level of drainage. In a poorly drained site, the water will take a day or longer to drain entirely.

Improving Fertility

• Soil fertility may be improved with the addition of rich topsoil, aged manure or compost. The use of organic material in soil not only improves the soil's nutrient content but also improves drainage. If soil is very heavy or filled with clay, add fertilizers such as phosphate, gypsum, bone meal, blood meal or sulphate of potash. Incorporate all materials well and deeply into the soil prior to planting.

Root Disorders

• Red tip photinia plants growing in poorly drained soil tend to develop root rot fungal disorders. The 6 to 12 inches of root zone is most sensitive to infection from the Phytophthora fungi that cause root rot or crown rot disease. Symptoms of infection include the wilting of foliage, either in a certain area of the plant or all over. To check for infection, scrape away the bark near the crown area. Infected wood is brown colored instead of a normal green.