Berberis (Japanese barberry) under window?

Frank99

Is it okay to grow Berberis Thundergii under house windows to deter people messing around or intruders etc.
I know many don't grow anything next to homes due insurance worries over subsidence but i think these bushes are quite small as i have one in the back yard.
The house was built late seventies so quite modern foundations.
I have considered other plants like firethorn but think they might get too big unlike barberry!

-taff

This can get big it all depends on soil and site. You can always chop it down a bit if it gets too big. Don't plant right next to the window, give it a bit of space to grow into.

Spender£

We have a Pyracantha in a whisky barrel under our front window and it has done really well. We put it in a whisky barrel as we have not yet decided whether to put it in the dirt being so close to the house.

It is really healthy and has nice berries and flowers although it grows more upwards than along the window so we are thinking of getting another to meet it in the middle as it only seems to expand about 3 or 4 feet.

I would forget Berberis as it is a bit tame and is unlikely to stop an intruder, Blackberrys are the most deadly i have seen for thorns although not pretty looking and roses also could be considered.

twopenny

It used to be the norm to grow plants around front windows and those houses/modern bungalows are still standing.

I just had a winter jasmine as anything that just makes it more difficult or could attach itself to clothing etc makes most go elsewhere.

I've seen a fair bit ot Pyracantha grown this way.

As long as common sense is used as you have I think people are being overcautious. Just think of the gorgeous roses/wisteria/Russian vine that grace houses for centuaries

Davesnave

If your house subsides because you planted a berberis in front of it, you really shouldn't have bought it in the first place!

We had berberis in strategic locations at my old workplace to corral the clients. It was still roughly the same size when I retired as when I started there 30 years or so before. Just an annual trim.

wort

I've just taken a pyracantha out from a back wall , as it was huge even with very regular trims, and it becomes very wide quickly, which makes trimming a nightmare, though the thorns are lethal!! 

Frank99

wort said:

I've just taken a pyracantha out from a back wall , as it was huge even with very regular trims, and it becomes very wide quickly, which makes trimming a nightmare, though the thorns are lethal!! 

Like the idea of the thorns with a Pyracantha, my window area is 4 foot high and 7 foot wide, would a pyracantha fill that space do you think?

Farway

Frank99 said:

wort said:

I've just taken a pyracantha out from a back wall , as it was huge even with very regular trims, and it becomes very wide quickly, which makes trimming a nightmare, though the thorns are lethal!! 

Like the idea of the thorns with a Pyracantha, my window area is 4 foot high and 7 foot wide, would a pyracantha fill that space do you think?

easily, may need a spot of training / tying in to keep it to shape you want as they tend to grow up rather than sideways

You could always plant two, one at each end to meet in the middle. Other branches could go vertically to eventually frame the window.

They take from cuttings quite easily

twopenny

In the days when people made their front gardens look lovely I still remember one bungalow that had the most beautiful Pyracantha shaped around it. They do look beautiful if you can stand the pruning.

One each side to meet is a good idea. The occasional vine-eye in the wall to take wires for training.

If your house needs painting behind the plant do it on trellis that may be able to be dropped forwards so that you can paint behind

wort

If you’ve the time to keep on top of pruning it’s great, the birds love it! Need to warn the window cleaner about the thorns though😨

FreeBear

Farway said:

Frank99 said:

wort said:

I've just taken a pyracantha out from a back wall , as it was huge even with very regular trims, and it becomes very wide quickly, which makes trimming a nightmare, though the thorns are lethal!! 

Like the idea of the thorns with a Pyracantha, my window area is 4 foot high and 7 foot wide, would a pyracantha fill that space do you think?

easily, may need a spot of training / tying in to keep it to shape you want as they tend to grow up rather than sideways

Pyracantha can be a real problem to dig out when you tire of it - Had a mini digger grubbing out a well established plant last year (was digging out a patio...).

If you want something that is relatively slow growing, spiky, and scented, have a look at Poncirus Trifoliata - Once established, you'll get a mass of small white flowers followed by small bitter oranges. The thorns can grow to 75mm, so will deter just about any intruder.