The hawthorn is very popular with hobby gardeners. The reason for this is not least its advantages - above all the extremely low maintenance effort.
No matter whether you cultivate the hawthorn (Crataegus) as a hedge, shrub or tree - it has many advantages. In the garden, it not only impresses with its inviting appearance and the possible uses as a privacy screen. It is also very easy to care for and requires only little care. The hawthorn, for example, has very few requirements when it comes to its location, wind and weather or heat. The ground doesn't really matter to him either. Therefore, for many, it is the ideal introduction to the comprehensive creation of a beautiful garden and to gaining experience with plants of all kinds. Nevertheless, it does not hurt to know exactly how the hawthorn is properly kept and cared for in order to fully exploit its advantages ignite.
Hawthorn with advantages and disadvantages
The hawthorn is a type of shrub that can be cultivated as a hedge or tree and is therefore suitable for many purposes. Probably the biggest advantage is its dense and highly branched growth, through which it can offer a wonderful privacy screen in the garden. Planting the hawthorn as a hedge makes even better use of this effect.
Another advantage is that the hawthorn develops a real bloom in spring. This attracts not only by its appearance, but also by the delicate scent. Edible fruits develop from the flowers in late summer and autumn, which can be processed into jellies, for example. Bird lovers in particular will appreciate the hawthorn. Birds like to nest in it because its thorns provide them with a lot of protection. Since the plant is also very easy to care for and can be shaped in almost any way, the hawthorn is very popular with many hobby gardeners.
Benefits of Hawthorn
✔ offers ideal privacy due to its dense growth
✔ serves as a nesting place for birds and protects them
✔ develops true blooms in spring, which also smell
✔ bears in late summer edible fruits somewhat resembling apples
✔ easy planting and no fussCare
✔ has hardly any demands on environment and weather
Disadvantages of Hawthorn
✘ Doesn't tolerate acidic soil
✘ Waterlogging damages the roots
✘ Heavy pruning reduces the number of flowers and fruits over the next few years
Key data on hawthorn
➣ can grow up to five meters tall
➣ tolerates pruning of any kind
➣ bears less fruit if pruned hard
➣ makes almost no demands on location and soil
➣ only does not tolerate acidic soil and waterlogging
How to care for the hawthorn?
Although the hawthorn has many needs, neither as a young plant nor as an adult shrub, proper care should not be neglected. After all, the many benefits of the plant should be preserved and enjoyed for as long as possible. Therefore, it is important to know about the needs of watering, fertilizing and cutting.
Watering the hawthorn - what needs to be considered
Although the hawthorn is not very demanding and can tolerate some drought and heat, it does not make much sense to neglect watering. Because then he quickly looks dry and can no longer hold some of his leaves.
Tip: Especially when young, it is important to ensure sufficient and moderate watering of the hawthorn, since as a deep-rooted hawthorn it only comes to take care of itself over the years to provide sufficient moisture.
Too heavy or regular watering, on the other hand, means that the roots of the hawthorn are attacked and rotted by the accumulated moisture. Also, at both extremes, the shrub becomes very susceptible - to both pests and diseases.
Fertilize the hawthorn - is that superfluous?
The good news is that hawthorn doesn't need fertilizer. If you really want to, you can work a little mature compost into the surrounding soil in spring if you want to loosen it up. Otherwise, you can easily do without fertilizer. Young hawthorn plants are welcome to receive a little more compost, but this is not a must either. Liquid fertilizers are to be avoided as, while they can aid growth, they will reduce flowering and therefore often result in less fruit to be harvested.
How to properly prune hawthorn hedges or shrubs?
Because the hawthorn also tolerates pruning of any kind, there is hardly anything to consider in this regard. Although the plant is very compatible with radicalsCutting and trimming should be waited until autumn if possible. Otherwise you won't get many blossoms or fruits to harvest.
It should also be noted that the young hawthorn plants should not be pruned at first in order to allow them to grow vigorously. If the hawthorn is older, pruning will encourage it to grow and spread even more magnificently. Therefore, a lot of space is required, especially for the hawthorn as a hedge.
Tip: You should not cut the hawthorn in frost.
What should be considered when overwintering?
When it comes to overwintering the hawthorn, the gardener doesn't have to worry at all. The plant hibernates all by itself and does not require any support.