How to Cut Back Pyracantha

Pyracantha leaves can also turn orange.

Pyracantha is a large bush or small tree also known by the common name firethorn because of the bright orange berries that develop on it. The berries form in large clusters that resemble grapes, and provide a splash of color to summer and fall landscapes. Because pyracantha produces blooms and berries on old wood, time your pruning carefully so you do not remove buds that would create the next year's growth.

Things You'll Need

• Loppers
• Hand pruners

Instructions

1. Wait to prune the pyracantha until the late winter to the middle of spring. Look at the plant to identify any weak limbs with few leaves or those that are yellow, indicating they are diseased. Use loppers to prune these stems as close to the ground as possible.

2. Remove one-third of the longest branches from the pyracantha by using the loppers to cut them off near the ground. This technique opens up the interior of the plant to air and sunlight, and allows new foliage to develop.

3. Look at the tips of the branches to identify those that are too long. Use hand pruners to cut these back as far as desired, making the cut 1/4 inch above a leaf cluster.

4. Wait until late summer, and then prune back the tips of all branches that developed berries during the current growth season. Use the hand pruners to reduce the length as much as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• If the pyracantha bush has never been pruned or has grown far too large for the space, prune all the stems back to 1 to 2 feet above the ground in the summer or in the winter. This eliminates all berries the following season but reduces the plant to a manageable size.

References

• "Pruning Trees & Shrubs"; M.A. Powell; 1998
• BBC Gardening Guides: Pruning Shrubs
• Dayton Nurseries: Firethorn
• University of Rhode Island Master Gardener Association; Pruning Guide; 2006