Help with Pyracantha Problem

Hi,
Our Pyracantha, which we planted some 15 years ago, has flowered very prolifically this year, best ever in fact. The developing berries, together with the leaves have suddenly started to apparently die. I have attached a photo and wonder if anyone can suggest a possible cause and solution please. Help greatly appreciated.

Tony W

 

Hi,

Thank you for your response.

We have been doing that for the last couple of days, but so far no sign of improvement. It has previously survived everything that nature and weather here in Oxfordshire has presented it with. Could it be that the extreme heat over the last period together with the prolific flowering has been too much for it?

 

Hi @Anthony Wilson

It can't zoom in on your photo, but it doesn't look too dissimilar to how my pyracantha looks at a distance. It does give the impression that the plant is getting crispy

But then if you look up close, all that is happening is that the blooms are turning into berries, and bits of the blooms are drying up and falling off:



You did say however that yours has leaves going off in colour as well.

I too think that it probably just needs some water. Established pyracanthas are usually self sufficient but it has been an unusually dry period. You said I believe that you've only been doing that for a couple of days, which wouldn't be enough time for it to recover. Just remember that it's better to water deeply and infrequently, rather than a little and often.

 

Much appreciate you taking the time to reply. Problem I note is that the flowers have fallen off (approx. 2weeks) and the berries are not forming, also the leaves are losing colour and curling up. I can't see any evidence of pests or disease so your suggestion would seem to be the most likely cause. Will pay more attention to watering and keep fingers crossed.

Many thanks.

Tony W

 

It must be very very dry up against that wall @Anthony Wilson . Sometimes a problem can take a while to have an effect. Drought and waterlogging can both do that. If you're in a dry area, it may just have been affected and it's only showing now. Waterlogging can also do that, but in your case, I'd think that's unlikely unless there's a burst pipe nearby or something similar.
Take a look at the surrounding soil and see what you think about the condition of it. Most pyracanthas are very resilient, so it's probably not too late to help it recover.
As @CostasK says, it'll take a while for foliage to recover after some good watering, especially with evergreens. If it isn't thriving after another month or so, and it's been watered well and the soil's ok, you may have to cut it back a bit to make it easier for it to come back well. I appreciate you may be wary of doing that as it's been nicely trained, but it might be the best way to help it in later summer, before autumn and colder weather kicks in again.
When you water, make sure it's a good canful, right in at the base, and do that every couple of days. I can't see if you have any other planting close to it, but that will also affect any water getting in. Hopefull, it'll come away again though

 

Thank you for your most helpful contribution, together with the previous comments and the suggestions contained therein, I'm more hopeful that we can now help the plant to recover. I'm rather ashamed to admit that, to date, I have rather neglected the Pyracantha, seemingly allowing it to look after itself, our only contribution being a little pruning and occasional feeds. I have now ordered some evergreen and will pay careful attention to the advice that you have all passed on to me. It is very much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Tony W

 

I take it that 'evergreen' is a feed of some kind @Anthony Wilson ? Just be very sparing with food. It's never a good idea to feed a plant that's struggling. A well diluted seaweed or something similar is ok - not too often, but feeding can often do more harm than good for a plant that's trying to recover.
Making the sure the soil around it is healthy, by adding organic matter, is by far the best method for helping it's recovery, and for the general health of anything woody. I've never fed a pyracantha, other than a small bit of BF&B or similar on initial planting, and I've had them in every garden I've had

 

Thank you for your comments, much appreciated.

Evergreen is an organic plant and soil fertiliser specifically for evergreen plants and is the only one currently licenced by the RHS. It contains seaweed & mycorrhizal fungi +plus much more. Worth having a look.