Grow Cotoneaster in any well drained soil in sun or semi shade. Cotoneaster is tough and resilient, even tolerating poor soils and dry conditions once established.
Best fruiting occurs in full sun, however it needs some shelter from cold, drying winds. Skogholm makes an excellent ground cover and can also be grown to cascade over walls.
No pruning necessary but to keep the size of the plant in shape and to encourage the most colourful bark, remove a third of the stems back to ground level each spring to make bushier.
After flowering, lightly cut back any branches that spoil the symmetry of the plant and apply a generous 5-7cm mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. In autumn trim back lightly any branches that obscure the display of fruit.
