Talkback: Quiet beginnings

Posts

• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  December 2007

  I hugely agree that Pyracantha is under-valued. I was once standing behind two old ladies at a nursery and overheard the following exchange:

  "What's an Orange Charmer?" asked one.

  "David Dickinson?" the other replied.

  (It's a cultivar of Pyracantha)

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  January 2008

  please advise how much and when to prune my pyracantha.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  January 2008

  Morning Malcolm. It is easiest if you prune in the summer (after flowering). Just cut back the new growth so that the berry clusters are more visible. If you need to bring an overgrown plant back into order then any time will do - be brutal, it won't mind. I trim mine twice a year: summer and mid winter (after the blackbirds have stuffed themselves).

  Thank you Garden Monkey - you never disappoint !

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  January 2008

  Thank you James for your interesting article about the pyracantha. I have one growing on the front of my house where it gets the blunt of all the bad weather, driving rain and strong north winds. Despite the situation my plant thrives well and produces wonderful flowers and berries (who needs a holly?)

  My pyracantha looked wonderful this Christmas with its bright red berries. I have never really understood when to prune either so just snip away at it to keep it from taking over and it has survived so far! I totally agree with James it is a very under valued plant.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  January 2008

  In my previous garden I had a splendid orange-berried pyracantha which was both larder and home to a blackbird family. I agree they are not usually used to their best advantage.

  I am most remiss in not planting one in my current garden, and aim to remedy this forthwith! It may deter the neighbourhood cats, if not the cat-burglars.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  January 2008

  James, love the espalier version you have grown and would love to grow one up my garage wall on the patio. Is it possible to grow one in a pot? and if so what size would you suggest? Many thanks.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  February 2008

  Live mid Scotland on a hill facing north west get every type of weather nature throws at us. Cut my Pyracantha right down to the ground last year as i wanted rid of it. It came right back as quick as a wink and am I glad as I'm raring to try my hand at using it to make an espalier on the house wall.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  February 2008

  Nina, Pyracantha will grow in a pot but not happily. It will grow perkily for a while but will then run out of space and soil. Fine if you do not wish to cover a very big wall and have a large pot - make sure you feed and water anything that is growing in a container.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  February 2008

  when is the best time to prune lavender? I was told a trim in september would suffice but mine is now so overgrown

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  February 2008

  Going back to Pyracantha. We inherited one growing on a north facing wall near to the front door.I seem to remember a few flowers on it in the first year or two that we lived in the house, but it has not flowered for the last 20 years! My husband is very patient, but I am beginning to give up hope. I carefully prune it each year to keep it looking tidy.Is there anything we can do to make it flower or should we take it out and start again?

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