Growing a Serviceberry in Colorado

Species Hardy in Colorado

• More than 25 different serviceberry species exist, but those common to Colorado include the Saskatoon or Western serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), the shadblow serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) and the Utah serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis). Mature plants generally reach 6 to 25 feet in height with spreads of up to 20 feet, making them a great choice for smaller yards. These four-season plants feature clusters of showy, white flowers in spring that give way to colorful fruit about midsummer. The leaves glow with vibrant yellow to reddish-orange shades in autumn, while the silvery-gray bark adds interest to winter landscapes.

Planting Locations

• Serviceberries grown as ornamental plants can handle partially shady to fully sunny positions, but locate your trees in fully sunny spots if you're growing them for the fruit. The plants thrive in various soil conditions, but prefer moist, acidic soils that have good drainage properties. Avoid planting trees in dense shade or heavy clay areas. If planting multiple serviceberries to create a hedgerow, leave about 6 feet between each plant.

Watering Serviceberries

• As your serviceberry becomes established during its first year after planting, use a soaker hose to give it about 1-inch of water each week throughout the growing season. Instead of watering just near the trunk of the plant, focus on irrigating the soil from the edge of the canopy and beyond. Once it is established, give your serviceberry about 1-inch of water a week only when your area experiences extended periods of severe drought. Spreading an organic mulching material, such as sawdust or chipped bark, can help retain consistent soil moisture while discouraging moisture-stealing weeds.

Pruning Serviceberries

• Pruning your serviceberry on a regular basis keeps the plant healthy, attractive and producing fruit. The berries and blossoms develop on the previous year's growth, so prune before the leaves emerge in the spring to promote vigorous new growth and a lot of fruit. Use sharp loppers or pruning shears to remove all damaged, weak, diseased, dead or low-spreading branches. Cut off any suckers sprouting near the base of the plant unless you want your serviceberry to colonize. Prune the stems, as needed, to keep your plant at the desired size and shape. Remove no more than one-third of the stems during each pruning session, however. Sanitize your cutting tools with a disinfect.

Potential Problems

• Although the serviceberry isn't associated with any serious pest or health problems, it occasionally suffers from fire blight in Colorado landscapes. This disease causes blackened foliage and bark, dead leaves and limbs, water-soaked flowers and dried fruit. No cure for this disease exists, as of October 2013, so control its spread by cutting off affected limbs and twigs about 8 to 12 inches beneath visibly infected wood. Soak your pruning tools for two minutes in a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach to 9 parts water between every cut to avoid spreading disease. If you don't want birds to take all the serviceberry fruit, drape plastic netting netting over your plant and secure it to the ground.