Most often, hawthorn in suburban areas is grown as an ornamental or fruit plant. The main characteristics that earned him the love of summer residents are unpretentiousness and a spectacular appearance. In general, the plant is very popular - garden hawthorn. Landing and caring for it are not particularly complicated procedures. We will talk about them later in the article.
Plant description
The hawthorn is a large tree-like shrub or even a small tree (up to 6 m high) and belongs to the Rosaceae family. The crown is thick, and the branches are covered with long spines. Thanks to these very qualities, hawthorn is so good at hedges. The varieties growing in Russia, unlike their American and part of the European “relatives”, do not differ in special “pricklyness”. The leaves of hawthorn are large and have an ovoid shape. In some varieties, the plate is rugged, in others it is even. There are both deciduous and semi-evergreen varieties.
The thorns of the hawthorn are former twigs. At the first stage of growth, leaflets even grow on them. The length of the spines in different species can range from three to twelve centimeters. They grow mostly near the fruits and serve them as a kind of protection. Their distinctive feature is extraordinary strength. Walking next to this plant should be careful, since the thorns of the hawthorn are able to pierce the sole made of almost any material.
Garden hawthorn blooms, planting and care for which are not particularly complicated procedures annually. White buds are collected in corymbose inflorescences. Unfortunately, they cannot boast of a pleasant aroma. The fact is that they contain the substance dimethylamine, smelling like stale fish.
Fruits hawthorn gives not every year. If it rains during flowering, a good harvest cannot be expected. The color of the fruit can be different (from pale yellow to red or even black) and depends on the variety. In shape, the fruits are elongated, spherical, pear-shaped, etc. Their size, depending on the variety, can vary from 4 mm to 3 cm.
Using hawthorn
Hawthorn, planting and care (pruning, etc.) for which should be carried out according to certain rules, is mostly used precisely for creating hedges. The formation of the crown in this case is carried out according to certain rules, which we will discuss a little later. Also, this plant is often used and just as a decorative. Hawthorn is especially beautiful in October, when its foliage acquires a juicy red-orange tint. The flowers of this shrub, as well as its bright fruits, look quite impressive. Since the plant is tall enough, it is usually planted either at the wall of the building itself or along the fence. In large areas, hawthorn of not too tall varieties are sometimes planted with a driveway.
The fruits of some varieties of hawthorn are edible and are used to make jams, marmalades and compotes. They are not only tasty, but also healthy.
Hawthorn. Planting and care: reproduction
Hawthorn can propagate by seedlings, seeds and the budding method. Most often, of course, the first method is used. It is believed that two-year-old seedlings are best accepted. Seeds for reproduction are taken from unripe fruits. Since hawthorn often has "dummies", they should be planted several at a time. Sowing is done in the fall by inserting the bud of a varietal hawthorn into a T-shaped incision at the root head of an ordinary wild.
Propagation by seedlings
Planting and caring for hawthorn - procedures are not particularly labor intensive. The soil under this plant is suitable for almost any. Only very acidic soils are undesirable. In this case, liming must be performed. A good solution would be to add some ash to the soil when planting. Fertilizing hawthorn is not necessary, but for better growth, you can use a little humus or compost. As for lighting, the hawthorn will feel good both in the sun and in partial shade. However, in the first case, it will be better to bear fruit and bloom.
A young hawthorn, planting and care of which will be successful only if certain rules are observed, is planted to a depth of about 50-70 cm. The step between individual plants should be approximately 1.5-2 m, depending on the variety. Plant hawthorn so that the root collar is located at the level of the soil. You can slightly dig it into the soil (no more than 2 cm). All roots must be in the ground. When they exit, the hawthorn begins to lag behind in development. Having established a seedling in a hole, it needs to be covered with earth and lightly tamped. Next, the plant is filled with water. The soil under the sapling must be constantly moist until complete engraftment.
Planting can be done both in spring and autumn. In the first case, this is done immediately after thawing the soil and warming it up. In autumn, hawthorn is planted after the beginning of massive leaf fall and before the start of frost.
Seed propagation
From seeds you can also grow a healthy, beautiful hawthorn. Landing and caring for it afterwards will not take too much time. In fact, this wonderful shrub grows just by itself. Its seeds are covered with a very hard shell. Therefore, seedlings appear no earlier than a year and a half after planting. They are sown densely, previously soaked in a one percent solution of potassium nitrate (per day). In the first year, seedlings will grow very slowly and will not rise higher than 12 cm. The next year they will need to be planted for growing. In the third year, the bushes (which by this time usually reach already half a meter high) are cut off, leaving 2-3 buds above the soil level. After this, the side shoots will actively develop in the plant. To subsequently get a beautiful crown, you need to leave no more than two. The rest are deleted.
How to get a beautiful spectacular hedge of hawthorn
Thus, we have examined how the hawthorn is planted. Care for the hawthorn will subsequently consist in almost only pruning. Being planted around the perimeter of the site, this wonderful shrub forms an unusually spectacular, deaf hedge. To get such beauty at the cottage, first of all you need to dig a trench under the seedlings. Marking for it is performed in the same way as for a conventional fence. Since hawthorn of almost any variety is a plant rather tall, the width of the trench should be at least 60 cm. Seedlings are planted at a distance of at least half a meter from each other. They must be placed strictly in the center of the trench. Since the hawthorn has been growing for quite some time, it is advisable to arrange a temporary fence from the side of the street from planks, a picket fence, a slab or a netting netting.
Under adult plants, they do not dig a trench, but planting pits. It is best if they have a square shape and strictly vertical walls. Their size should be such that the roots of the planted plants do not reach the main soil on the sides and bottom by 15 cm.
What varieties to choose for hedges
Almost any hawthorn is suitable for creating a beautiful hedge . The best varieties in this case:
- "Prickly hawthorn";
- "Spur";
- "Soft";
- "Cirrus";
- "Blood red";
- Arnold.
The last three varieties, in addition to forming a blind impenetrable wall, also bloom very beautifully.
Hawthorn care
Next, consider how to grow a beautiful dense hawthorn. Landing and caring for it, as has been mentioned many times, do not take much time. However, some rules must still be followed. Hawthorn is not demanding on soil, but from time to time it is still better to feed it. In the spring, under the roots make a mixture of "Kemira-universal" in the amount of 120 g per square meter. Before blooming, hawthorn should be fertilized with manure diluted in water (1 * 10, 8 liters per plant).
This plant is watered once a month. Moreover, for every adult bush there should be about ten liters of water. In very dry and hot weather, the amount of watering is increased to two per month.
Fruit hawthorn, planting and care for which are aimed at obtaining a good harvest, it is necessary to feed. Watering in this case is carried out in exactly the same way as when growing purely decorative varieties.
Preparing hawthorn for winter
Some varieties of hawthorn are not afraid of winter cold at all (varieties "slaly-leaved", "cock spur"). For others, for example, such as “common hawthorn" (planting and care for which are carried out in the same way as for other varieties), shoots and flower buds can freeze. Of course, sheltering adult plants is quite problematic. Therefore, in cold regions, it is better to use frost-resistant varieties. If some shoots still freeze, in the spring they just need to be removed. New branches of hawthorn will grow very quickly. Young, freshly planted plants are sprinkled with a foliage layer of about 15 cm for the winter. This will prevent the roots from freezing.
Hawthorn. Planting and care: pruning
Hawthorn is one of the ornamental plants requiring mandatory artificial crown formation. It is especially important to do this regularly and correctly when it comes to hedges. The lower branches of the hawthorn die off over time, as a result of which a solid green wall is thinned.
The first molding is done in the second - third year after planting in the spring. The bushes are cut to a height of 10 cm from the ground. This procedure is repeated two to three years, until the bushes become very thick. Further, the hedges give a square or semicircular shape. It is advisable to perform pruning every year. In the spring, all diseased and dried branches are cut off from the plants. Then proceed to the formation of the hedge. Performing this procedure, you need to remember that cutting branches and shoots by more than 1/3 of their original length is extremely undesirable.
Hawthorn disease
This is how the garden hawthorn is grown. Planting and caring for it, carried out according to all the rules, will allow you to get beautiful lush plants. However, sometimes it happens that all efforts are reduced to zero due to some kind of infection. One of the most unpleasant diseases of hawthorn is rust. Detected infected shoots should be removed immediately, and the diseased plant should be sprayed with a 5% solution of Bordeaux fluid. This procedure can be performed for healthy bushes in the spring, in order to prevent.
Another common disease of this ornamental plant is a hawthorn tick. In case of infection, the branches are also trimmed (in spring or autumn). The bush itself is treated with colloidal sulfur. In the event that the plant is very severely affected, spraying is repeated after flowering.
Thus, we have found out what a hawthorn plant is (description, reproduction, care, planting). As you can see, growing it is a simple and even enjoyable business. All that is needed is to periodically water the bushes and perform the correct pruning. If you take a little time to care for this wonderful plant, you can get an unusually effective decoration for a suburban area.