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Pyracantha hard cut back

LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
in Plants


Hi everyone

I've been having some issues with damp in a first floor bedroom which I guessed must have something to do with this pyracantha I've let get out of control. Although I give it a trim say the front, I've been last the last couple of years and not kept the height under control.

I've trimmed the height right down and tidied it up a bit but noticed the branches have got in behind the rainwater pipe and pulled out away from the wall and damaged the joints. I'm guessing this is causing the wall to get saturated.

I don't want to lose the pyracantha entirely but will definitely need to cut back the parts that are causing damage. If I cut the whole lot back heavily, is it going to grow back? There's is a lot of bare branches behind the fresh growth and it feels like wasted space, especially as it overhangs the paved pathway. I've read that they can be heavily cut back and will grow again but I'm wondering if I should just pull the whole thing out and start again? Not that that will be an easy job!!

Thanks all.
I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - they grow back.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    It will grow back, but you might want to consider it could do the same thing again unless you keep a close eye on it. 
    Is it there to prevent someone attempting to climb the drainpipe ?
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    Fairygirl said:
    Yes - they grow back.  :)
    This answer to my wall of text made me smile! ☺️
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    AnniD said:
    It will grow back, but you might want to consider it could do the same thing again unless you keep a close eye on it. 
    Is it there to prevent someone attempting to climb the drainpipe ?
    It was an inherited plant from the previous owners but I don't think it's there for any prevention reasons. I think the flimsiness of the drainpipe would deterrent enough!! If this does end up being the reason for the damp problem I'd have no issue keeping it under control.
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068


    Too much?? 😂
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sorry if I seemed a bit abrupt @Latimer!  :D
    I agree with @AnniD though -  and it's probably better to choose something else for the site, if anything at all. Some lower growing planting/bulbs etc.

    Pyracantha is a great deterrent, but it's better for boundaries. I had one near my front door in a previous garden, but there was no pipework or anything else there that would cause problems. It was nice seeing the blackbirds and thrushes eating the berries on the doorstep too   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    Fairygirl said:
    Sorry if I seemed a bit abrupt @Latimer!  :D
    I agree with @AnniD though -  and it's probably better to choose something else for the site, if anything at all. Some lower growing planting/bulbs etc.

    Pyracantha is a great deterrent, but it's better for boundaries. I had one near my front door in a previous garden, but there was no pipework or anything else there that would cause problems. It was nice seeing the blackbirds and thrushes eating the berries on the doorstep too   :)
    It wasn't a criticism, I was laughing at the fact I'd probably been too verbose!! 😂

    I do like the pyracantha and have one directly opposite this one that I can see from the kitchen window. Watching the birds is fascinating!

    When I moved into this house I pulled out everything from the back garden and have plenty of moments of regret as there were a lots of mature shrubs in there that I'm now thinking I need to replace. I might give it another year and see if I can keep it under control, if not, it'll come out.
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I know what you mean about taking stuff out, but at least you can put in other stuff you like - or even replace the ones you took out with more of the same! If you already have a Pyracantha, maybe it's a chance to rethink the area. I like to have plenty of greenery that I can see from windows - it helps it stay cheery on the long grey days of winter, and the bits against the house have more seasonal planting    :)

    I've had a few blank canvas gardens, including this one, and I enjoy that, although others can find it daunting. I've already changed stuff  [been here almost 9 years]  and may even do that again - who knows? All part of the fun  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LatimerLatimer Posts: 1,068
    edited January 2022
    @Fairygirl I thought you could buy a couple of books and watch a few episodes of gardeners world and it'll come easily but that's just not the case!! 😆

    Last year was tough, I struggled to understand why I was finding it so hard to have the garden looking like I want it or more importantly feeling how I want it to feel. I think I'm going to allow myself to just bunging stuff in and see how it goes a bit more but that's hard to do on a tight budget! And it's totally against my perfectionist plan it in advance nature!!
    I’ve no idea what I’m doing. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    It can be difficult to know what you want, when you don't know what it is that you're looking for (if you know what l mean). 
    As long as the stuff you bung in will be happy where you bung it (sun lovers in the sun, shade lovers in the shade), that's a good start. You can usually move it later.
    I've just moved a Nandina shrub from one side of the garden to the other because l wasn't happy with the original position, and l'm forever moving plants around  :)
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