Red Robin shrub

I have a Red Robin shrub in my garden and I am constantly having to clean up the lawn because of fallen leaves. It doesn't seem to be deciduous as it generally retains its leaves through the winter. However single leaves fall constantly on the garden and I am usually tidying up every week sometimes more.  A lot of the leaves that fall have some kind of black spot on them.  Are they falling because its the natural thing to do at this time of year or because they have some kind of disease and if so how can I put it right?  I would be grateful for any help with this problem as I don't know whether to cut it down or give it a bit longer.

Thank you to all for answering my problem - I have to admit it's driving me crazy having to mop up every few days - it makes the lawn look so untidy!

I may give it one more chance and prune it when the weather gets a little better and if I still have the same problem then I think I may have to remove it and plant something else in its place as I do need something to give me a little provacy from the road.

Any suggestions on something which will bush out and be low maintenance? - preferably not deciduous?

Just bought one from Morrisons - £2 - called Little Red Robin which grows to 1m.  Is this classed as a dwarf form Verdun?  Was hoping it wouldn't need much pruning!

Thanks Verdun   - thought for a minute I'd made a mistake there

Thanks Verdun If I can get a Choisya which grows to 6ft it will be just the thing - I do have one of these in my back garden but it is barely 3ft

Try Choisya  Aztec Pearl..bit bigger.

Hi Verdun, my Pearl is 6ft. wide by 5ft tall and a good flowerer. It's in the middle of a bed so I don't often bury my nose in it. Just think it is a bit more sphisticated than the ternata common floosie. I have the yellow choiysia in a pot and it seems very susceptible to frost damage...do you find it tender? I have it in the greenhouse in this bad weather and quite frankly is almost more trouble than it has been worth so far, if that is not too hard hearted.

I have 3, Choisya ternata which is big and bushy, Choisya ternata Sundance which has golden leaves and is smaller and should grow to about 2.5 metres but it hasn't yet after 8 years, and Choisya Aztec Pearl which has narrower leaves and seems less vigourous than the other two. It's about 4 years old and under 3 foot tall. Last winter it went down to -17° in Feb. and they were all OK apart from a few brown leaves.

I HAVE MY RED ROBIN IN A POT AND WONDER IF AFTER THREE YEARS OR MORE I SHOULD PUT IT IN OPEN GROUND. ALSO HOW DO YOU PRUNE A RED ROBIN, I DONT WANT TO CUT IT BACK TO FAR AS IT IS A LOVELY FEATURE IN MY GARDEN.  

Cut it back as much as you want to to keep it tidy, you don't have to cut it far if it's how you want, just snip bits off if they grow unevenly. If it's healthy in the pot you could leave it there, remembering to feed and water it.

You don't need to write in capital letters, in computer speak that is shouting. If the print is too small for you it's because there is a problem with the site at the moment. Press Control  and + or Control and - to reduce.

Berkley, can I ask you what you feed your Red Robins, as mine have the black spots that Dirunda Mcilwraith mentioned. I would also love to prune and propegate thefew red robins that I have (to eventually make a hedge) but am afraid of not doing it right after letting them grow nice and big for a few years now. Please help a one is really big and needs pruning before it comes in the window. 

You can prune Photinias really hard.  There was a thread recently about this...check it out.

Cuttings are easy enough I think. Only ever did one lot few years back and they rooted over the summer.  Use your prunings for this....you could just insert them in a shady  part of your garden although this is best done in autumn