The mountain ash is extremely popular in this country. No wonder, because the plant is robust and extremely easy to care for. Every now and then the rowanberry needs a little attention.
With its bright orange berries, the mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) is an ornament in every garden. It only takes a few simple steps to turn the rowan tree into an eye-catcher all year round and to offer the birds a feeding place in winter.
The trees are native to Central Europe, which generally makes maintenance easier. The plants are robust and resilient. The rowanberry grows at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters and is also found in coastal regions.
The mountain ash was first scientifically described by Carl von Linné in 1753.
Several subspecies are known:
❍ Swedish Whitebeam
The Swedish Whitebeam grows to a height of about ten meters and has strikingly orange-red berries. The simply lobed leaves turn an attractive yellow-orange in fall.
❍ Mahogany Rowan
The Mahogany Rowan is very suitable for cultivation in smaller gardens. The trees grow about eight to ten meters high. The pinnate leaves are very attractive. The scarlet berries are accompanied by an equally striking leaf color.
❍ White Rowan
As the name suggests, this species grows rather like a shrub. The filigree and elegant-looking shrubs grow to a height of about five meters. The leaves are pinnate, the shrub has rather loose foliage. A special feature is the white to pink color of the fruit. In autumn the leaves turn a rich orange to a deep red.
❍ Rowan Joseph Rock
As a rather small species, this rowan does not grow higher than eight meters. The pinnate leaves and the pastel yellow fruit color are pretty to look at. In autumn, the orange-red color of the leaves is an eye-catcher.
How to properly care for the mountain ash
Watering rowan correctly
The rowan tree does not want to dry out. Too intensive watering measures are, however, alsonot recommended. The trees do not tolerate waterlogging. This should already be considered when choosing the substrate. Floors that are too heavy prevent irrigation water from draining away. Mixed with sand or gravel, the soil becomes more permeable.
In rainy periods, the mountain ash does not need additional watering. In dry and hot summers should be additionally watered. The top layer of soil is allowed to dry out. It is important that the soil does not dry out completely and the plant can no longer obtain sufficient moisture from the roots.
» Tip: The mountain ash is not sensitive to lime and can therefore also be watered with tap water.
Especially young plants need constant moisture so that the roots can develop well. On its own, the mountain ash is often exposed to the wind. These plants also require a relatively large amount of moisture. A watering ditch can be dug around the plant so that the roots are always sufficiently supplied with moisture and the rowanberry does not dry out too quickly.
coming soon:
- must not dry out
- Avoid waterlogging
- water in case of prolonged drought
- top layer of soil can dry slightly
- Water young plants more often
Fertilize mountain ash correctly
The fairly undemanding rowan berry does well in conventional garden soil. If mature compost or horn shavings were added to the substrate when planting, the nutrient supply is secured for the first few years. Particularly poor soils can be enriched with compost every year. Simply loosen the top layer of soil and work in the natural fertilizer. If the soil is mulched before planting, further fertilizer applications can also be omitted in the first two years.
If you want to fertilize additionally, you should use a special product for deciduous trees and ornamental trees (e.g. available here). This fertilizer is usually lower in nitrogen and is better for the plant than conventional fertilizer for green plants.
» Tip: The best time to fertilize mountain ash is between September and October.
The mountain ash loses its leaves in autumn. However, eager hobby gardeners should not get rid of these. The leaves begin to decompose quickly and release the magnesium they contain to the soil. So you only need to work the leaves lightly into the soil and have provided a valuable natural fertilizer.
coming soon:
- low nutritional requirements
- Incorporate compost into the soil annually
- Mulching before planting provides long-term fertilizer
- use low-nitrogen fertilizer on poor soil
Cutting rowan
If we look at the natural growth behavior of the mountain ash, it becomes clear that the tree does not cause any major problems when pruned. As a young plant, the rowanberry sets a rapid pace and has quickly grown into a small tree about two meters high. Older trees grow noticeably slower, so pruning is reasonable and can be planned well, since rowan won't outgrow you in the meantime.
If you want to keep the tree particularly small, you must of course cut it back. Pruning is also necessary in the event of disease or pest infestation. Since the mountain ash forms rather light crowns, thinning will hardly be necessary. If you still want to remove branches, you should wait until the flowering period.
» Tip: If you remove faded flowers, you won't be able to enjoy the berries either.
If you want to enjoy rowan berries, you should not remove faded ones. A pruning should be made directly at the base. Don't leave stubs behind. This takes unnecessary strength from the tree. To avoid damaging the tree, you should only use sharp pruning tools that have been disinfected beforehand.
Winter mountain ash
Winter in our latitudes cannot harm the rowan tree. The trees do not need any additional protection. The foliage takes on an attractive coloration in autumn and then falls to the ground. The berries decorate the winter garden and are a popular food source for birds.
Young plants, on the other hand, should not spend their first winter outdoors. The winter quarters should be bright and cool. Young rowan trees that have been overwintered indoors must also be watered occasionally during the winter months so that they do not dry out and the roots can continue to develop well.