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Pyracantha Red Column

bigbird1bigbird1 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
I have two Pyracantha planted in two quarter barrels on a north-west facing wall that are quite exposed to East winds off a lake. They have been there for over three years. Growth of branches is OK but there are very few leaves, I've never had flowers or berries but there doesn't seem to be any blight or damage on either of them. I'm thinking of taking them out unless someone can let me know what is going wrong. If I can't save them, any other suggestions as to what I can grow in that situation? See photos attached. Daffodils planted in the same tubs.

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're not usually very happy in containers. They should be quite dense, with a good coverage of foliage. 
    If they're right up against a wall, it's probably very dry too, which won't help. Like most shrubs, they need plenty of water until well established. The soil in a container needs refreshed each year to replace nutrients too, and it needs to be soil based, not just compost. What are they growing in?  If they've only been in compost for that length of time, that won't help.  Drainage needs to be decent too.

    They certainly doen't look very happy, as the foliage is very pale when it should be quite a vibrant green [which suggests lack of nutrients]  but it's difficult to see properly from those photos. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bigbird1bigbird1 Posts: 3
    Thank you so much Fairygirl, you have certainly answered my question.  Because they are in containers, they are not actually up against a wall and I thought I was good with the watering. However, they are in compost (thought I was doing them a favour).  I think I will take them out and plant them in the ground somewhere. 

    I thought these were fairly robust plants not needing a lot of attention.  I replaced roses with them for that reason. 

    Can you suggest something else that wouldn't be quite as fussy and would do well in a container?

    Thanks again for your advice.
  • PianoplayerPianoplayer Posts: 624
    Hi. The other thing I would add is that they do need pruning, and respond very well to it - so that's the way to get them dense rather than spindly. I had one that had gone completely out of control, and I hacked it back ruthlessly, and it is now a fine dense shrub. So I would be inclined to cut yours back.

    If you want to keep them in the containers, then replacing MPC with a mix of fresh MPC and John Innes no3 would give better water retention. You also need to feed them in spring - the yellowness looks like nutrient deficiency to me.

    Lots of really good info here:
    https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/shrub/pyracantha.php

    Good luck!
  • bigbird1bigbird1 Posts: 3
    Thank you Pianoplayer. That article and your advice is very welcome. I'll try again with them but to be honest they may be happier in the ground rather than containers. I only picked them because I wanted something red at the side of the house. I'll cut them back "ruthlessly", change the soil and see what happens. 

    Thanks again.
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