Red Robin Trees

Hello, i planted 3 red robin tress in in 200mm of top soil then a clay/sand mix. They get sun for 70% of the day. I planted them April 2023. They are looking a little sad, black spot and leaves down. I have used grow more and added extra top soil this year.

They have flowered and have fresh red leaves but i just expected more growth this spring , am i expecting to much in 12 months? They appear to have grown nut have less leaves.

Images below, the large bulb image is an old established tree in my garden for comparison.

 

Images

 

It takes most shrubs a year or so to acclimatise to their new conditions, a little over a year and they've probably only just chucked some more anchorage down. We've had a wet winter/spring which is likely to have caused the black spotting. You should be a bit more 'whelmed' next spring

 

They tend to look like that here anyway, as it's too cold and wet for large parts of the year, so your climate and conditions are a factor with those.
I also agree with the fact that they'll only just be properly established now, especially as they're standards, and quite big specimens. They look pretty decent compared to many of the ones I see!

 

The Bamboo cane seems very close to the main stem. If there are any places where it touches your plant and rubs on the trunk it can cause damage and subsequent infection.
This is how a tree should be staked - low down (approx 1/3 up from the ground with the top of the stake pointing toward the prevailing winds) and with a tree tie. This will prevent the whole tree from swaying in winds. Without the stake the tree will rock in winds and snap the hair-like roots that take up nutrients and water.
But it also leaves the upper part of the tree to be blown about in the wind which will strengthen the trunk.
Once established the stake can be removed (unless it's a very windy site)
Whoever did this done a very good job - there's no need to be quite as fancy as this, but you can get the general idea.


The leaf spots may just be while it's settling in and down to the weather as said above, but it may be Photinia Leaf Spot -
Photinia Leaf Spot Disease | Davey Tree.

 

In addition to the above advice, improving your soil with some organic matter like farmyard manure, compost or soil improver should also help your plants get established. Keep them well watered as they look quite close to your fence and therefore in a rain shadow.

 

would something like a bark/mulch be a good layer to add?

 

Here is a better image from afar, they cost a small fortune to put in so I wanted to keep ahead of the game with any issues before it to late but it sound like I need to give them another season.

The black fence is now and the other pic is when they first went in. They appear to have grown but look much less 'bushier'.

 

I love the black fence

 

Yes, a bit different. I didn't like the concrete posts once the fence was black to just painted it all. Though I don't think the fence paint will last on the posts so I think I'll be re visiting it next year!

 

I'd add organic matter first and then water your plants well before topping the soil with a bark mulch. I like the black fence too, I did mine a couple of years ago!

 

It looks like quite a sheltered sit, so you may not need to go mad with the staking, but I'd still remove the canes, and put an angled one in for the reasons @Pete8 has given, ie the rubbing etc.
I'd also make that border much wider - lots of planting in there all competing for nutrients and moisture, so if you're in a drier, hotter area, that may cause problems.
Improving the soil by regularly mulching with organic matter, is always better than any artificial feeding, especially for shrubs and trees.
You'll be surprised at how well the fence paint lasts on other materials - depending on what type it is. I use the Ducksback one [also black!] for my timber, and I also painted the kick bolt on the back gate with it. It lasts well on that.