Things Needed
The bright orange or red berries on the declamatory pyracantha ( Pyracantha spp . ) make the bush a magnet for raspberry and other wildlife in wintertime , when food is scarce . aboriginal to Asia and Europe , the 10 pyracantha species are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 and 6 through 9 , depending on the species . Pyracantha , also known as firethorn , is generally used as a large landscape shrub or hedge due to its size , at up to 18 feet grandiloquent and equally across-the-board .
Planting the Pyracantha
Step 1
Put on shoes , long sleeves , long pants , heavy work boxing glove and safety glasses before working with or around the pyracantha . The bush are heavily armed with 1/2- to 3/4 - inch thorn that may cause a reaction in sensitive individuals .
Step 2
Plant the fire thorn in gloaming or spring . take a planting site in full sunlight or part shade , where the soil is well - drained . fire thorn are tolerant of most grease types , including clay , but if the soil drains poorly , set up large raise beds .
Step 3
Dig a planting hole three times the breadth of the tooth root ball and at an adequate depth . Do not improve the hollow soil .
Step 4
Wrap the shrub in an old blanket or a tarp to protect yourself from the thorns . absent the agriculturalist ’s pot by slice it down the side with a utility knife and carefully angle the bush into the planting hole .
Step 5
pore the pyracantha in the planting hole , spreading the solution gently . Backfill with the excavated grunge , then tamp gently . Thoroughly water to settle the soil and wipe out any breeze pockets .
Step 6
Rake 3 to 4 inch of mulch under and around the shrub . Mulch helps maintain a ordered moisture level by slowing water evaporation from the dirt
Caring for the Pyracantha
irrigate the pyracantha with 1 inch of water weekly in summertime or during teetotal spells in winter . concentrate watering during the showery season . Overwatering can cause root rot .
Fertilize with an 8 - 8 - 8 or 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer in May . use 1 tablespoonful of plant food for every groundwork of the shrub ’s tallness , carefully engrave the granule 2 to 3 inches into the soil . Water the bush soundly after feed .
Prune after the pyracanth finishes blooming , in summertime . Pyracantha may be pruned severely to boil down the sizing of the shrub , or lightly to preserve the flower and Berry . Remove dead , dying or get across offshoot with anvil pruners or pruning hook to allow air circulation through the shrub .
Monitor the bush for sign of fire blight . Fire blight is a bacterial infection that kills the twigs and branch . The only treatment is to prune out the dead and dying branches , cutting back to sizeable woodwind instrument . rate the numb branch in the bin for trash getaway ; do not put them on your compost great deal . Disinfect pruning prick between cuts with a disinfectant made of equal part scratch alcohol and water .
Remove pesterer such as aphids and whitefly . The group of tiny dark-green aphids in affectionate Modern increment or white whitefly underneath the leaves are easily removed with a blast of water . Bumpy reddish or brown scale insect may be sprayed with a neem oil color solution , mixed at a charge per unit of 2 tablespoons to 1 congius of water . plume the underside of the leave and twigs with the neem oil answer to kill the dirt ball on contact lens . ingeminate the discussion every seven to 14 days until the infestation subsides .
Tip
Pyracantha angustifolia " Gnome " is hardy in USDA zone 5 through 9 , while Pyracantha coccinea is brave in USDA zone 6 through 9 . Select disease - resistant variety , such as " Mohave , " " Rutgers " and " Teton , " to dilute the relative incidence of fire blight and other diseases . Pyracantha are used as roadblock hedge due to the slurred growth and crisp thorns .
Warning
Pyracantha metal money may be invasive in your domain . snort can hold the seeds to sick areas of dirt , where they may thrive . Keep all tool , fertiliser , neem oil colour and the shrub trimmings out of reach of children and pets .
