Can pyracantha be defoliated?

[BenHolland2991]

Here’s my little pyracantha I’ve been training for a few years now.
This year the leaves have really gained some size & I feel it ruins the appearance a little.
Can pyracantha be defoliate to stimulate a second flush in the same way I’d defoliate a JM?



I’m in the south of the UK.

 

[0soyoung]

Why don't you just defoliate a single branch and see what happens?
Or just defoliate the last bit closest to the tip of one branch.

While you are at it, just snip the tip off another branch.

Then, just wait and compare.


While you are waiting, you could read about what Thimann and Skoog found out about these things, nearing a century ago now.

 

[Mayank]

Here’s my little pyracantha I’ve been training for a few years now.
This year the leaves have really gained some size & I feel it ruins the appearance a little.
Can pyracantha be defoliate to stimulate a second flush in the same way I’d defoliate a JM?



I’m in the south of the UK.

I just defoliated mine. I got it from Mark Fields at last year's all-state show in Gd Rapids, Michigan and I was talking to him about it and he said that every year in spring he defoliates the whole thing and is rewarded with a flush of new leaves and flowers.

 

[BrianBay9]

Yes, agree. You can fully defoliate a healthy pyracantha.

 

[penumbra]

Very good to know info. I was thinking about this yesterday but never got around to defoliating it. Will do so soon.