What to do with this hedge

Posts

• JennyJ Posts: 10,576

  11 January

  It looks like it's been pruned by someone who didn't have a tool that would go through the thick trunks/branches so they just chopped off what they could, resulting in the random heights. If you want it more of a regular hedge shape, I would take a pruning saw and take it down to about half the height of the tallest one.
  

  Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  

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• Papi Jo Posts: 4,254

  11 January

  Hi,

  I wouldn't call that a "hedge". A photo showing a wider view of that fence might help us make suggestions. Do you absolutely want to keep that Pyracantha? Or uproot it and go for something nicer (i.e. not so thorny)?
  

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• Plantminded Posts: 3,580

  11 January

  I'd be inclined to do as @JennyJ suggests, if you want to keep it!  Creating a clear bed around the root area and feeding with Blood Fish and Bone towards the end of February will also encourage fresh growth. Birds enjoy the berries so worth keeping if you like it!

  Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  
  
  

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• sarahharmer2014 Posts: 36

  11 January

  Papi Jo said:

  Hi,

  I wouldn't call that a "hedge". A photo showing a wider view of that fence might help us make suggestions. Do you absolutely want to keep that Pyracantha? Or uproot it and go for something nicer (i.e. not so thorny)?
  

  😄 I personally don't like Pyracantha, we have another one down the bottom of the garden which is doing well but a nightmare pruning because of its very thorny. 
  
  I think, I might cut it lower down and level and do a fresh new border as digging out that Pyracantha might be a even bigger task because of all those roots to take out.

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• Ceres Posts: 2,698

  11 January

  Pyracantha is normally grown up a support though it can be grown as a freestanding shrub or hedge. Your's is rather too far from the fence to be grown as a climber which either suggests that the boundary has been moved or it was originally intended to be free standing. The plants at either end don't look like pyracantha in the photo but that might just be me not seeing them properly.

  I would suggest cutting it down level with the shortest pieces, about two feet above the ground, then letting it grow up and bush out a bit and keeping it trimmed as a low shrub. If you don't want it that far from the fence then just get rid of it.
  

  
  

  https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/pyracantha-to-grow/

  
  

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• Rubytoo Posts: 1,630

  12 January

  If you want to remove it, then do not cut it down .
  Leave the longest trunks, trim off all of the side branches and any big sticky thorny bits which are also often on the main trunks.
  
  You can the dig around them I would start a foot or so away around the trunks at the ends and similarly along the side.
  Then you can dig down and cut through the roots there. As you go you can then rock the stems/trunks to loosen the soil and roots further.
  
  I happen to have some old large long handle loppers, they had so much use we got new ones for "proper" use and the old ones are great for cutting old roots.
  
  I think what you have there are not going to particularly big or thick. Also an old or cheap pruning saw will be useful. 
  (Another item we only recently got but i do not know how I have managed over the years without is a pick axe).
  
  Once you get digging and rocking it is surprising what comes loose.
  
  I do love pyracantha for the berries but have reluctantly replaced ours with skin friendly cotoneasters.

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