Pyracantha

sunshinetours

Looking at possibly planting some bushes of this next to a fence for "security reasons"

Will it grow in shaed areas underneath say canopy of 6 large conifers. Canopy on them starts about 6/7 foot up?

Can the pyracantha's be planted in large pots as presumably conifer roots may be rather a problem?

Thanks

Lotus-eater

I dug one up once, it took a 6 foot metal bar and almost broke my back! And I still couldn't get all the roots out, I had a few bits regrow, so ended up digging them up again.
The roots went really really deep, so I would guess that they wouldn't do that well in a pot.
Not to mention watering them all the time.

But if I wanted to keep someone out of the garden, I'd pick it anytime, horrible things, spikes like inch long needles.

Sorry I can't be more help.

peachespeaches

I had one in a shaded back garden, but Im not sure about a conifer canopy. I cant quite picture what you mean! A lot of plants have trouble growing near to conifers.

sunshinetours

If you imagine 6 established conifers in a line about say 3 foot apart - the proposal would be to try and infill the gaps between each trunk if that makes more sense. I know that conifers do take a lot of water away from local soil so hence mny query about large pots really
Thanks for replying

Farway

If for "security reasons" would not planting in pots negate that? Just move / shove the pot aside and no barrier at all

Sorry I cannot answer the shade problem

foxgloves

I've got 2 pyracanthas in large containers and two growing up a fence in the ground in fairly poor soil. The 2 growing up the fence have done really well, I don't think your average opportunist burglar would choose to come through that way as the spines on the plants are fearsome! The 2 in containers, which I grew really for the berries as we like to garden for wildlife, haven't done nearly as well. One of them is trained up a piece of trellis, the other is just a low prickly bush, but they haven't achieved even a quarter of the growth of the 2 I planted in the ground, despite it being very near to some building foundations and a load of thirsty privet.

sunshinetours

foxgloves wrote: »

I've got 2 pyracanthas in large containers and two growing up a fence in the ground in fairly poor soil. The 2 growing up the fence have done really well, I don't think your average opportunist burglar would choose to come through that way as the spines on the plants are fearsome! The 2 in containers, which I grew really for the berries as we like to garden for wildlife, haven't done nearly as well. One of them is trained up a piece of trellis, the other is just a low prickly bush, but they haven't achieved even a quarter of the growth of the 2 I planted in the ground, despite it being very near to some building foundations and a load of thirsty privet.

Thanks that is great info - will not bother with pots

May have a little dig round the roots and see how far I can dig in and then plant a few to see how they do. I have read that they are quite hardy

foxgloves

Hi Sunshine,
Glad info was helpful. Yes, they are quite hardy. Mine seem to take anything I throw at them.......except the poor old ones in pots!

calleyw

I have a love hate relationship with this plant.

I love the berries that feed the bird over the winter.

But the spikes drive me made. And I still have a piece in my thumb. Been there for about 6 months. Skin has no grown over as it would not come out:mad:

If you ever need to prune it please be very careful.

Yours

Calley