Pyracantha is also known as firethorn for its brilliant flame-coloured berries. It’s a hardy shrub that’s easy to grow and look after, and it’s actually one of my favourite shrubs. You can use it as a stand-alone shrub, as a hedge or train it to grow up a wall or trellis. I cover all of this here and tell you how about caring for pyracantha in most gardens. About pyracantha Pyracantha is a shrub with prickly leaves that grows to…
Your pyracantha may be losing its leaves due to something you’re doing or to something in the natural world. Perhaps you’re under-watering it, or maybe some bugs have moved in. You need to do a bit of detective work to figure out the problem and to put things right. The most common cause is usually a water issue, not enough or too much, then you have diseases such as pyracantha scab that attack the flower’s leaves and stem, causing the…
Pyracantha takes kindly to pruning. But that doesn’t mean that you should grab your (sterilised) pruning shears and start hacking away at the plant. I start this guide with the reasons to prune your pyracantha, add in some tips, and then tell you when and how to go about pruning. If you’re looking for a quick summary, Pyracantha should be pruned in late winter or early spring to promote healthy growth and flowering. It’s important to avoid pruning during the…
Don’t write off your pyracantha plant just yet. What seems to be a dying pyracantha can often be saved. Here are the most common problems with pyracantha and how to deal with them. Pyracantha leaves falling off This is such a common problem that I wrote a whole article about it and how to deal with it. Please read Why is my pyracantha losing its leaves for great information. Problems with pyracantha flowers and berries The problems here could range…
Your pyracantha not flowering may be due to natural causes, something in the garden environment or something that you did. A similar problem is that a pyracantha is flowering but is not producing berries. I deal with both issues in this guide, identifying common causes and detailing what to do about them to promote flowers and then berries. Your pyracantha not flowering could be as simple as the ground being too dry when flowers are developing. Or a late frost…
Although pyracantha is a hardy plant, several pests and diseases can be a real problem for pyracantha. The two more serious diseases that attack pyracantha (also known as firethorn) are Pyracantha fireblight and pyracantha scab. More on these further down. When it comes to pests, you have the usual aphids that are easy to control and mainly attack new lush foliage in spring. However, woolly aphids and pyracantha leaf-mining moth are two insects that prey on pyracantha and can do…
In these kinds of articles, I usually say not to worry, your plant probably isn’t dying, it’s just sick and needs a little care and attention and a little love. But in the case of a palm tree, it may actually be on the verge of death. Here’s how to tell if your palm tree really is on the way out or whether it just needs some treatment and care. The first step to saving a dying palm tree is…
You may wonder why I’m writing an article about how to grow and care for palm trees for UK gardens. But there are some species of palm trees – called hardy palms – that can withstand temperatures down to 10˚C. Alright, you have to give them special care and attention in the winter months and even further down, this is not always needed either. But isn’t it worth it to have tropical plants as part of your garden landscape? If…
Palm trees are a beautiful addition to any landscape, providing shade, tropical vibes, and a unique touch to any space and will grow in many different places, including some colder regions you might not expect. However, like any plant, they are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases that can cause harm which you need to look out for. In my guide, I will discuss some of the most common palm tree pests and diseases, as well as other…
One of the main questions I often get asked is why the leaves on their palm trees are turning yellow and even brown. Most of the time, it’s due to overwatering or lack of nutrients, especially if it’s a potted palm if it has not been repotted or had fertiliser recently. However, it can also be environmental such as sunburnt or even pests. Most problems can usually be fixed by proper care. I identify the main reasons for yellowing fronds…