Due to its positive properties, the hawthorn is one of the most popular ornamental plants. We'll show you 2 ways to multiply them.
The hawthorn (Crataegus) is a very popular plant in Germany for many reasons, which can be cultivated as a shrub, hedge or individual tree. In all three variants, the hawthorn offers a number of advantages that are particularly valued by less experienced gardeners. No wonder, then, that the goal of the owner or enthusiast is often to obtain several hawthorn plants. Whether for planting some hedges, giving as a gift or cultivating a single tree. You can find out how to propagate hawthorn in detail below.
Hawthorn Traits
Whether as a hedge, shrub or tree - the hawthorn is characterized by a number of positive properties that still give most gardeners a lot of joy even after many years. Hawthorn hedges are very dense and branched. This means that they provide a lot of shade and hardly allow any views from outside. So if you still need privacy in your garden, you can easily create it with the plant.
It is very helpful that the hawthorn gets along well in almost any place, with all soil compositions and also a lot of sun, so that planting should not be a problem. The fact that the dense, lush leaves are adorned with delicate flowers in spring and soon bear edible fruits that are often used for jam is also a big plus. The only disadvantage of the hawthorn is that it bears fewer flowers and therefore fewer fruits due to some pruning, so that the harvest is minimized. Otherwise, however, the hawthorn can convince many people again and again. Most keepers also find these facts very interesting:
→ the plant grows up to five meters high
→ flowers in spring, fruits in late summer or early autumn
→ tolerates pruning very well
→ dense and branched Growth
→ has thorns that protect birds and small animals from predators
→ bears red, edible fruits
- Advantages
- Cons
✔ serves as a nesting and breeding ground for birds, which provides them with security
✔ makes it possible to harvest edible fruits
✔ Blossom provides a delicate, fresh fragrance in the garden and attracts various insects
✔ generally tolerates pruning
✔ by propagating you get several plants that are set up and grown in a row of hedges be able✘ Cuts can reduce crops
No expert knowledge required to propagate
The good news is that propagating hawthorn is not an art. So you don't have to be particularly experienced in the field or have a particularly green thumb to create a whole hedge line from a hawthorn plant or to get several individual plants. The hawthorn hedge or the shrub can be propagated either by the seeds contained in their own fruit or by cuttings, which shorten the waiting time somewhat. However, how do you proceed with both options in order to see success as quickly as possible?
Increase by sowing harvested fruits
If you were able to harvest some fruits of the hawthorn, you have to use them to win the seeds. So the flesh has to be removed. When the seeds are fresh, they can be used indoors in the fall to grow hawthorn seedlings. For this you need several small flower pots or alternatively a bed box in which the seeds can be sown.
Hawthorn seeds are cold germinators
Hawthorn seeds are cold germs. Therefore, these do not have to be placed in a very warm place or covered with cling film for a greenhouse effect. They also thrive well in conventional conditions. If there is no frost in autumn or if the temperatures are still sufficient at the moment, the seeds can even come out into the open to germinate. Once the sprouts have grown and are at least two centimeters high, they can be pricked out in order to get into their own containers - if they haven't already done so.
Hawthorn seedlings continue to germinate outdoors in spring
As soon as spring arrives and frost no longer occurs, the young seedlings can remain outdoors permanently. For this, however, they still need a place that is protected from the wind, even if they will no longer have any problems with wind and weather later. After overwintering indoors, young hawthorn plants are usually strong enough to be planted whole in the garden next spring.
If you don't have hawthorn to propagate at home and don't know anyone who can provide you with seeds, you can also order them from Amazon:
Planting seedlings in the garden
As you can see, it takes a very long time until you can finally use and use planted seeds as a plant in the garden. So if you want to create a row of hedges, you have to have a lot of patience and time and also take good care of the seedlings. They want to be kept moist at all times without standing in water, but they also want plenty of light and airing. A pruning is not necessary for the young plants from this propagation method, nor is fertilizing.
Propagation via cuttings
Propagation by cuttings can be done quickly and easily, which, in contrast to seeds, have already completed a large part of the growth process. To get the cuttings, select a few appealing shoots on the tree or hedge that are already slightly woody. These should have grown at least 10 centimeters and already have leaves and buds in order to be able to grow well and become an independent hawthorn plant. After selection, the shoot is cut off above the growth node so that it retains a length of about 8cm.
Plant cuttings
The respective cutting can then be planted with the lower third - and that already outdoors. However, the soil should have been loosened up a little beforehand, the cuttings should be slightly moistened and then covered with a bag to create a slight greenhouse effect. It should be noted, however, that the bag must then be removed regularly so that the cutting can air. If it develops new buds and leaves or even shoots, the propagation was successful.
Transplant cuttings
Now the cutting can either be transplanted or become a new hawthorn plant in its original location. In this way, hawthorn can be propagated in less time and with a higher chance of success.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a quicker way to propagate hawthorn that takes a little less effort and time, cuttings are the way to go. Here, however, it is necessary that you already have an older hawthorn plant that has developed many shoots and has not been pruned back too much recently. Propagation via cuttings gives you a daughter plant that has exactly the same properties as the original mother plant. Because of this, rows of hedges are madeOffer cuttings a very uniform and even look - also in terms of flowering. Whichever way you choose to propagate, it is definitely worth trying out propagating hawthorn.