pyracantha (sp) question

picked up one with a nice shape to it already from a wee Bonsai nursery in Lutterworth last year. Popped it into the ground for some fattening, and I've been keeping it trimmed back since. Lovely berries, incidentally. However, my question is how happy are they to be wired? I'm of a mind that it will be a bit surly when I try. Looks quite brittle.

Hello Bobby. The Firethorn isn't so much brittle as very stiff. Large wire is the way to go with this tree. The other way to do it is once it has reached the required girth in the ground, cut back the branches leaving 1/2" (25/50mm) stubbs and as they bud back very well, wire the new growth while young and flexible.

Pruning scars last forerver!

JimLewis wrote:Pruning scars last forerver!

In a bonsai pot situation, yes. If this work is carried out in the ground, then faster healing will occur.

thanks chaps.

Will - nature has already done a grand job of branch placement and structure so I aint too keen on chopping off what's already there. I was thinking only of putting some movement into the main branches. It's ownly little too.