Content
Common hawthorn is a tall, spreading bush, more like a tree. Found everywhere in Europe. In Russia it is grown in central Russia and in the south. It grows and develops well in areas located near the sea.
History of selection and distribution area
There are more than 200 species of hawthorn in nature. This crop pollinates well, and new species of this plant appear every year. Smoothed hawthorn (common) is common in Western Europe. It was brought to its eastern part at the end of the 19th century as a cultivated plant. Over time, it again became a wild crop that grows on the edges, in forests, and plantings. Grows well in humid maritime climates and on rocky soil. In the photo you can see what prickly hawthorn looks like:
This species became a cultivated plant thanks to the scientist-breeder Michurin. He developed such varieties of common hawthorn as Ryazan and Granatnaya. In Russia, the crop is not grown for industrial purposes. It is used for landscaping city park areas and garden plots. Ornamental trees and shrubs, including large-thorned hawthorn, are used for these purposes.
Description of prickly hawthorn
This is a shrub that grows up to 8 m, rarely up to 12 m, in height. After 2 years, it develops a light gray bark, the color of the branches is brown with a reddish tint. On young shoots you can see a small soft fluff; later it crumbles and the branches become woody.
A distinctive feature of this type of hawthorn is its spines, up to 2-5 cm long, which are modified shoots. Cultivated varieties have few of them. Wild bushes have all branches covered with sharp thorns.
The leaves are oblong, dark green on top, light and toothed on the back. In autumn, the leaf turns bright orange or scarlet.
The crop blooms in the spring, in early or mid-May, in cold climates - in June. The flowers are small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, white or pink, collected in erect inflorescences of 5-10 pieces. The petals are wide and round in shape, narrowing towards the center of the flower, taking on the shape of a triangle.
The fruits are round, less often oval, up to 10 mm in diameter. Most often red or orange, but there are varieties with white and yellow berries. The pulp is fleshy and juicy. Inside the fruit there are 2-3 flat seeds, their length is 7 mm. The berries do not have a special taste. The first fruits ripen in August.
Common hawthorn grows on clayey, moderately moist soil. The shrub loves sunlight; partial shade is also not an obstacle to its good growth. In urban conditions it develops well, blooms and bears fruit. It is recommended to grow common hawthorn in the central regions of Russia and in the south.
Characteristics of the species
A description of the common hawthorn would not be complete without its characteristics. This is an unpretentious plant that requires regular watering, loosening the soil, and fertilizing. All these procedures will have a beneficial effect on the growth and fruiting of the bush.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Common hawthorn does not tolerate drought. In hot summers, for good fruiting, it is watered once a month. One bucket of water is used per bush. If there is no rain for a long time, watering the hawthorn can be made more frequent - up to 2-3 times a month. If it rains regularly in the summer in the growing region, additional watering is not necessary. The plant cannot tolerate excess moisture in the soil.
Common hawthorn tolerates winter well. Trees older than 5 years, which have formed a strong root system, the trunk and branches are covered with woody bark, do not need shelter. Young plants and seedlings must be protected from frost. It is especially important to insulate the shoots and the first buds, which are located at the base of the bush. This is done by covering the root area and trunk with fallen leaves, dry tree bark, and sawdust.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Common hawthorn can suffer from pests of fruit and berry plants: aphids, leaf rollers, spider mites, scale insects. Diseases may cause damage such as ocher spot, powdery mildew, gray and white spot.
In autumn, after leaf fall, the treatment should be repeated.
Planting and caring for common hawthorn
Seedlings older than 2 years are selected for planting. The distance between plants should be at least 1 m. It is best to root the bush on soil rich in black soil. The proximity of groundwater is undesirable for it.
Recommended timing
Common hawthorn is planted in the ground in late spring or autumn before frost. The autumn period is preferable, since the plant will be hardened over the winter and this will stimulate its growth.
Selecting a suitable location and preparing the soil
Open, well-lit areas are suitable for planting common hawthorn. A slight darkening can stunt the plant's growth. Even a hedge should be exposed to sunlight.
The shrub can grow on any soil. If the main goal is to obtain a good harvest, choose heavy chernozems with a low lime content. The soil for planting is fertilized with a mixture of humus, sand, and peat in equal parts. Afterwards the soil must be loosened well. Good drainage is important for proper shrub growth.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
Common hawthorn can be planted next to other crops of this species. They pollinate well and produce high yields. A single plant can be surrounded by other low-growing shrubs or flowers. Common hawthorn does not tolerate shading well, so it is not recommended to plant tall crops next to it.But in some sources there is a description of how well common hawthorn grows in the shade of coniferous plants.
Landing algorithm
For rooting in a permanent place, 2-year-old seedlings are chosen. The distance between them should not be less than 2 m. A hole is dug about 60 cm deep and about a meter in diameter. Focus on the size of the rhizome. All layers should be freely located in the pit.
Landing is performed as follows:
- The rhizome of the seedling is soaked for half an hour in a solution of water and a growth stimulant.
- At the bottom of the pit, drainage is made from a layer of expanded clay, fragments of brick, and crushed stone.
- Sprinkle it with a small layer of soil.
- Place the seedling in the hole so that the trunk is in the center, the root and cuttings are straightened and fit freely.
- The rhizome is covered with the prepared fertile mixture. The earth is being trampled.
- The plant is watered with a bucket of water.
- Afterwards, the soil is sprinkled with a layer of peat, at least 5 cm.
Aftercare
Caring for common hawthorn is not difficult, but you should not allow the soil to dry out and feed the plant on time. Also important in care is its pruning in autumn and spring. This will allow you to form a beautiful crown and increase productivity.
Trimming
If the common hawthorn is part of a hedge, it is pruned in the spring. Remove dry and old branches. The main shoots are shortened, leaving a third of the length. If the bush has broken, diseased shoots or branches, they can be removed at any time.
Preparing for winter
The shrub tolerates frost well, but if winter is expected without precipitation, it is recommended to insulate it.This is done using peat, sawdust, and fallen leaves. They are placed on the root zone, around the trunk and lower branches.
In winter, when precipitation falls, you can cover the bush with a layer of snow. Other garden trees are also insulated in this way.
Watering
In rainy summers, hawthorn does not need watering. If the season is dry, the bush is irrigated 2-3 times a month. In this case, about 15 liters of water are used. Before watering, you need to get rid of weed and dig up the soil. Stagnation of moisture near the plant trunk should not be allowed.
Top dressing
In the spring, before flowering, common hawthorn is topped with a solution of manure in water (1:10). This stimulates its growth and flowering. This feeding of the shrub will be enough until the next flowering season.
Rodent protection
Before the onset of cold weather, it is important to protect the common hawthorn from destruction by rodents. To do this, the trunk and lower branches are wrapped in spruce wood and loosely tied with ropes.
You can wrap the trunk with burlap and cover it with roofing felt on top. In this case, the dense material must be deepened into the ground by 2-3 cm. Ordinary nylon is also used as protection.
If there are a lot of pests, feeders with poisonous drugs are installed in different parts of the garden.
It is necessary to follow the instructions for the drug and remember the safety of pets and birds.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Dangerous pests for prickly hawthorn (common) are aphids, leaf rollers, and scale insects. To prevent their occurrence, it is necessary to promptly remove fallen and dry leaves and branches around the bush. It is also important to systematically remove weeds.
As a preventive chemical agent, treatment with Nitrafen solution is used before foliage appears. To destroy pests, spray with Chlorophos solution. Dilute 20 g of the product in 10 liters of water.
The main diseases to which common hawthorn is susceptible include: powdery mildew, yellow, gray and ocher spot. Lesions appear as plaque and rust-like spots that cover the leaves. Damaged branches and shoots are destroyed, and the bush is sprayed with fungicides. After 2 weeks, the procedure should be repeated.
Common hawthorn: application in landscape design
Landscape designers love common hawthorn for its unpretentiousness and brightly colored flowers. The interesting shape of the crown and the bizarre curves of the shoots will become a real decoration of the garden.
Common hawthorn is used for the following purposes:
- landscaping empty plots;
- creating hedges;
- combined planting of shrubs with spirea;
- creating alleys.
The plant tolerates pruning well: any patterns and shapes can be formed from its crown. And the sharp thorns of hawthorn will protect the garden from animals and rodents.
The use of common hawthorn as a hedge is shown in the photo:
Conclusion
Common hawthorn is a universal plant that is used for decorative purposes and for fruiting. It is easy to care for and even easier to propagate. A hedge of lush plants with prickly thorns will become impenetrable to strangers. With proper care, such a fence will not only be a reliable shelter, but also a real decoration of the garden.
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