If you are looking for a quick and visually appealing privacy screen, you should reach for the hawthorn. Here you can find out what to consider when planting as a hedge.
If you are still looking for a beautiful shrub or a practical hedge for the garden that not only offers privacy but also a certain added value, the hawthorn shrub is a good choice. These are shrub-like plants with dense foliage and thorns that can be used for a hedge, but can also be kept as a shrub or tree. Although there are various species of hawthorn (Crataegus) worldwide, only a few different hawthorn plants are available in this country. In addition to the lush leaves, the hawthorn is also characterized by the delicate, bright flowers, which make it appear very playful in spring.Hawthorn - what speaks for the plant?
The hawthorn is equally popular as a hedge, shrub and tree and is not only popular because of its shading properties, but also because it offers a lot of privacy in a short time. The hawthorn is very easy to care for and therefore has few requirements. It's not just the flowers that attract insects to the hawthorn and make it popular with the animal kingdom - but also the edible berries, from which you can make jam, among other things. Birds like to nest in hawthorn branches because the thorns protect them from other animals. The strong branching of the plant makes the hawthorn the ideal hedge for anyone looking for the best privacy screen - but its height also delivers plus points, as the hawthorn can shoot up several meters as a hedge or shrub.
Hawthorn blossom - a special feature for humans and animals
In spring, the hawthorn is covered in delicate flowers that are usually white or off-white in color and may resemble cherry blossoms depending on the species. Not only do these flowers look pretty and attract insects of all kinds, but they also exude a very spring-like fragrance that spreads throughout the garden. In late summer or early fall, the flowers are then replaced by reddish fruits that can be harvested over a long period of time. They can not only be processed into jam or eaten as such, butalso serve as fodder for animals.
What else you should know about the White Drone
- becomes untamed up to five meters high
- blooms in late spring
- can be used as a bush, hedge or tree
- bears edible fruit once late summer arrives
- Blossoms exude a fresh fragrance
- dense branching ensures optimal privacy protection
- can be cut and raised at will
Hawthorn - pros and cons
Advantages
✔ offers a lot of privacy and can also provide shade
✔ has beautiful flowers that smell good
✔ bears edible fruits in late summer
✔ serves as a nesting place for birds and protects protects them from predators
✔ can be pruned and trained as desired
✔ generally undemanding
✔ even tolerates heat very well
Cons
✘ If you prune it heavily, the flowers will be less lush, so the harvest
✘ will grow vigorously and must be cut more often to maintain its shape
Plant hawthorn - at which location?
The location doesn't really matter to the hawthorn - the main thing is that it gets sun from time to time and is not too shady. A partially shaded or full sun spot is therefore ideal for the hawthorn to thrive and stimulate flowering in late summer. The practical thing is that the hawthorn is also very resistant to wind and weather, but at the same time it tolerates heat very well. So it can be planted almost anywhere.
What should the floor be like?
In this respect, too, there is no need to worry about the hawthorn - because it can be planted in almost any soil without growing stunted. The planting hole can be filled with normal potting soil, but excavated soil is also suitable - the soil should not be too acidic or wet. Waterlogging is just as little tolerated as very acidic soil. Of course, the plant also needs enough moisture and nutrients, as well as a lot of permeability, so that it can thrive and bear numerous fruits.
Plant hawthorn - as a hedge, shrub or tree
If you want to plant one or more hawthorn plants, autumn is ideal for this. This is because many nutrients get into the soil during the summer and the soon falling leaves, which help the hawthorn to grow - but of course you can also expose it to the garden in spring or early summer. Walk with a young hawthornas follows:
- Dig the planting hole
The first step is of course to dig the planting hole and adapt it to the root of the young hawthorn. The planting hole should be at least twice as large as the root bundle of the plant. It is important that the ground is free of frost and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
- Loosen the soil
Now it's time to loosen up the soil around and in the planting hole. This can be done with a rake and is also the ideal opportunity to enrich it with compost and add nutrients.
- Insert Hawthorn
Now the plant is placed in the planting hole together with some soil. This must be done very carefully so that the roots are not damaged or pressed tightly. The whole thing is filled up with soil and only lightly trampled down.
- Water hawthorn
Now the freshly planted hawthorn is watered. This should only be repeated when the soil is slightly dry to avoid waterlogging. Under no circumstances should the earth be trampled on too firmly and water poured over it, as the roots could rot and suffocate due to the accumulating moisture.
If several hawthorn plants are to be planted, they can be placed next to each other as a hedge. The rule here is that up to three plants can be planted per meter in order to meet their space requirements.
If you want to buy a hawthorn as a hedge, shrub or tree, you don't have to be afraid. The hawthorn itself is more than easy to care for and can grow well almost anywhere without making many demands. The look and its many advantages make it not only very popular, but also very practical.