How To Correctly Space Your Red Robin
So How Far Apart Should You Plant?
Getting the spacing right for Photinia Red Robin is one of the most important decisions you can make when planting a red robin hedge. Spacing affects how quickly the hedge fills in, how healthy the plants remain long term and how much maintenance will be needed in the future.
Red Robin naturally grows vigorously with strong upright structure and dense foliage. Because of this, planting too closely together is a common mistake and can lead to overcrowding, poor airflow, and increased disease risk.
Recommended Spacing for Red Robin Hedges
For most residential hedges in New Zealand, we recommend spacing Red Robin plants approximately 50 cm apart.
50 cm spacing
Best if you want a dense hedge quickly and are committed to regular trimming from an early stage.
Why Spacing Matters
- To develop a strong root system
- To receive just the right amount of sunlight to make the branches move and compete for the light
- To maintain good airflow through the entire hedge
- Correct spacing will produce vibrant red new growth evenly
- When planted too far apart the plants get all the light they need and will grow straight up without trying to “Bush Out” and form a tight knit hedge
- It ensures that the end result is a dense hedge free from holes
Our Professional Recommendation For Planting Red Robin
After 17 years of hands-on experience planting and maintaining Photinia Red Robin hedges we plant Red Robins at 50 cm spacing always.
This spacing consistently produces the thick uniform hedges people expect from Red Robin. When planted at 50 cm intervals the plants naturally compete for the light available just enough to grow together encouraging upright growth as well as strong lower coverage which creates a dense hedge line from an early stage.
When Red Robins are planted further apart they tend to receive all the light they need and instead of forming a cohesive hedge they often begin behaving like separate shrubs becoming tall and leggy. The end result is your hedge will take longer to knit together.
Our approach focuses on guiding Red Robin to do what it does best, form a structured continuous hedge rather than a row of individual plants.
Common Red Robin Spacing Mistakes to Avoid
#1 – Planting Red Robins Too Far Apart – This is the most common issue we see. When spaced too far apart Red Robins don’t feel the need to grow bushy and inward. Instead they relax into their own space resulting in patchy uneven growth and a hedge that never fully thickens.
#2 – Assuming More Space Equals Better Growth – While some plants benefit from wide spacing, Photinia Red Robin performs best when it is encouraged to grow as part of a group of plants. Too much space can actually slow down hedge formation and reduce density over time.
#3 – Expecting Gaps To “Fill Themselves” – Red Robins when planted too far apart rarely close gaps naturally in the way people expect. Without enough competition each plant prioritises its own shape rather than contributing to a solid hedge line.
#4 – Planting Without a Clear Hedge Goal – If the goal is a tight formal hedge then the spacing needs to reflect that from day one. Planting loosely and hoping to correct it later usually leads to more pruning work and a less consistent result.