Pruning Pyracantha !!

[naturelover]

Is pyracanthus that beautiful blue shrub/tree,i have one of those and i just chop it here and there as it hangs right over the path,its beautiful every year.

[Susie]

I think you are thinking of ceonothus (sp?) Naturelover. That is another beautiful shrub. Pyracanthus is a small leaved evergreen shrub that has white flowers in summer and then either, yellow, orange or red berries during the autumn/winter. It also has some very nasty spines!

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Susie

I think you are thinking of ceonothus (sp?)

Correct spelling is Ceanothus, also you have Caryopteris another blue flowering shrub which most grow to around 1m in height.

[Susie]

I stand corrected.

[Bad bird watcher]

Sorry to hijack this thread but the mention of ceanothus got me thinking. Mine is intruding on my neighbours drive and I'm expecting a complaint anytime soon. I have read that they should be trimmed back after flowering but would it be ok to chop it back now? At least the bit that overhangs the fence.

Thanks

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Bad bird watcher

Sorry to hijack this thread but the mention of ceanothus got me thinking. Mine is intruding on my neighbours drive and I'm expecting a complaint anytime soon. I have read that they should be trimmed back after flowering but would it be ok to chop it back now? At least the bit that overhangs the fence. Thanks

It will not hurt the plant, you will just lose the flowers from the parts you prune. Though I would emphasise 'prune' as opposed to 'chop back'

CM

[Geoff F]

Not sure if there are any modern varieties of Pyracantha which are different but the old advice was never prune if you want berries because it flowers and produces berries on last years growth. If you must cut back to reduce size then prune every third shoot (branch) each year so that the others will still flower and produce berries, but it does take three years to reduce in size. The traditional time for pruning was just after flowering so that it will have time to recover and flower the following year. If you do have to cut it back hard do it then.

Propagate by semi ripe cuttings in August or September.

My red berried variety has developed a form of rust or sooty mould and I can't find any cure so in desperation I cut it back to a stump which is starting to regrow. If the rust returns it will have to go. The orange form is unaffected.

[Bub-les]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Not sure if there are any modern varieties of Pyracantha which are different but the old advice was never prune if you want berries because it flowers and produces berries on last years growth. If you must cut back to reduce size then prune every third shoot (branch) each year so that the others will still flower and produce berries, but it does take three years to reduce in size. The traditional time for pruning was just after flowering so that it will have time to recover and flower the following year. If you do have to cut it back hard do it then.

Propagate by semi ripe cuttings in August or September.

My red berried variety has developed a form of rust or sooty mould and I can't find any cure so in desperation I cut it back to a stump which is starting to regrow. If the rust returns it will have to go. The orange form is unaffected.

Sound advise. Totally agree. If it has to be cut back and you still want berries then wait till it is in flower and prune off the non flowering parts.
Hard pruning often encourages the shrub to grow more vigorously.
Geoff F you could try spraying with Systhane an anti fungal spray used on roses for rust mildew etc I found it got rid of rust on my ornamental weeping willow. It was sprayed at first sign for 2 years and I haven't had to spray for past 2 years!
Hope that helps
Barbara

[Bad bird watcher]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

It will not hurt the plant, you will just lose the flowers from the parts you prune. Though I would emphasise 'prune' as opposed to 'chop back'

CM

Yes that was a rather unfortunate choice of words!