A few disease-resistant options include Apache, Fiery Cascade, Mohave, Navaho, Pueblo, Rutgers, Shawnee, and Teton. [1] X Research source Apache grows 5 feet (1. 5 m) high and 6 feet (1. 8 m) wide. It produces bright red berries. Fiery Cascade grows 8 feet (2. 4 m) high and 9 feet (2. 7 m) wide. It produces orange berries that gradually turn red. Mohave can reach heights and widths of 12 feet (3. 7 m) and produces orange-red berries. Teton survives well in cold climates and can grow as tall as 12 feet (3. 7 m) and as wide as 4 feet (1. 2 m). The berries are golden yellow. Gnome is resistant to cold weather and produces orange berries, but it tends to be more susceptible to disease. It grows 6 feet (1. 8 m) tall and 8 feet (2. 4 m) wide. Lowboy grows 2 to 3 feet (0. 6 to 0. 9 m) tall but spreads out much further. It produces orange berries and is very weak against disease.
Avoid areas that receive full western sun exposure since the sunlight can be too intense.
This plant is actually a great choice for soils that aren’t very fertile. Nutrient-dense soils can cause the shrub to become very bushy. As a result, it becomes weaker against diseases like fire blight and may yield less fruit. Note that the ideal soil pH for pyracantha is between 5. 5 and 7. 5. In other words, it does well in neutral to slightly acidic soils. [2] X Trustworthy Source Missouri Botanical Garden Oldest botanical garden in the U. S. and center for botanical research and science education Go to source
Pyracantha has dangerous thorns. When the plant grows tall instead of wide, these thorns are kept out of reach. When planting pyracantha against a wall, choose a planting site 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) away from the wall itself. Soils directly next to the wall can be too dry. Avoid planting the shrub next to a painted wall, doorway, or gate since the thorns and prickly leaves can scrape away the paint. It is also recommended that you do not train the plant against the foundation of single-story buildings since it can grow too large and cause problems. [3] X Research source
When removing a plant from a disposable plastic container, you can usually press on the sides of the container to ease the plant out. If removing the plant from a firmer container, slide the trowel down along one side of the container. Once it is as deep as possible, tilt the handle of the trowel back. The leverage should help pry the root ball out.
Make sure that the shrub is planted to the same depth as it was in its previous container. If you surround the stem with too much soil, it can weaken or kill the plant.
Bone meal is an organic fertilizer that adds phosphorus to the soil. It can encourage root development and make it easier for the plant to establish itself. If you want to use another fertilizer, make sure that you choose one that provides a high dosage of phosphorus.
Note that if you choose to plant multiple rows to create a thicker hedge, each row should be 28 to 40 inches (70 to 100 cm) apart.
The soil should receive a little water each day. If the weather forecast does not predict any rain for the day, lightly water the soil in the morning. The soil shouldn’t be so soaked that puddles begin to form, but it is important that you do not allow the soil to completely dry out during this time. The plants will become too stressed and may begin dropping leaves.
If the plant begins to drop leaves, it probably isn’t getting enough water. If the leaves begin to turn yellow or if the wood of the plant becomes soft, it might be receiving too much water.
Most pyracantha cultivars are strong enough to hold themselves against a wall or fence without any assistance, but they will still benefit from being tied down. Run wires along your wall next to the pyracantha and tie the branches of the shrub to these wires with string or cable ties. If you are training the pyracantha against a fence or trellis, you can tie the branches directly to the structure using string or cable ties.
Mulch also protects the plant from ground frost during cold winters
Nitrogen causes the plant to grow too many leaves. As a result, fruit yield suffers and the plant can be more susceptible to disease. If you do choose to fertilize the plant, use a balanced fertilizer containing equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium or one containing more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen. Apply it once during early spring and a second time during late summer.
Wait until the plant finishes flowering in mid spring to remove new growth. Prune the new growth at your own discretion, leaving at least a few flowers so that fruit will develop in the fall. Note that fruit will only develop on growth that is at least one year in age. Prune the leaves of the plant when the fruits develop in early to mid fall. Remove just enough growth to expose the fruit to air and prevent it from rotting. Remove leaves and branches selectively in the late fall to early winter to accentuate the best of the brightly colored berries. No matter when you prune the plant, you should never remove more than one-third of the growth.
If you plan to consume the fruit produced by the pyracantha, it is strongly recommended that you rely on organic pesticides rather than chemical options.
Prevention is more successful than treatment when disease is concerned. Choose disease-resistant cultivars and maintain proper moisture and airflow conditions. There is no known cure to stop the spread of fire blight once it develops. If scab develops, you can attempt to treat the disease with a fungicide. This treatment may or may not be successful, though.
