Content
Soft hawthorn is a universal plant that embodies aesthetics, functionality, and unpretentiousness. Semi-soft hawthorn is equally good in a hedge or as a standalone flowering plant. ornamental shrub, as a medicine or as a component for creating a culinary masterpiece.
History of selection and distribution area
The soft hawthorn is a typical representative of the flora of North America. The habitat extends from the northeast of the Atlantic coast to the southwest, including the central states of the United States, to Canada. Grows on forest edges and slopes with moist soil. The plant has been cultivated since 1830. In Russia, semi-soft hawthorn is widespread and can be found throughout the European part. Grown in the southern, central, central black soil zone.
Description of soft hawthorn
Hawthorn is semi-soft (softish), presented in the form of a tree, less often a shrub 6-8 m in height. The crown is densely branched, spherical in shape. Young shoots are green in color, old shoots are light gray, with numerous thin, slightly curved spines up to 8 cm long.
The foliage is ovoid or oval in shape, with 3 or 4 pairs of lobes. The base is cut, broadly wedge-shaped. The apex is pointed. The leaves are at first strongly drooping, gradually becoming bare; over time, the pubescence remains only on the veins. The edges of the foliage have a jagged edge. In summer its color is dark green, in autumn it becomes red-brown. The leaves do not fall for a long time.
It blooms in large inflorescences of 12-15 flowers. The diameter is 2.5 cm. Flowers are placed on long peduncles. Inflorescences are tomentose, loose. The sepals are red, there are 10 stamens. The flowers contain a lot of essential oil, so the pleasant aroma spreads over long distances.
The fruits of semi-soft hawthorn can be seen in the photo. They are pear-shaped, orange-red or crimson-red in color, up to 2 cm long. The berries are slightly pubescent, with small whitish inclusions. The pulp is somewhat dry, mealy, and soft. Ripe fruits have a dessert taste, as they contain up to 15% sugar. Edible.
Characteristics of the species
The description of semi-soft hawthorn indicates its decorative properties. From spring to autumn it pleases with its lush crown, bright, large inflorescences, original fruits, and colorful leaves. The tree blooms in May, the fruits appear by September.Fruiting occurs at the age of 6 years. Up to 20 kg of berries are harvested from one plant.
Drought and frost resistance
Semi-soft hawthorn (softish) is a winter-hardy tree. It can tolerate frosts down to -29 °C. Adult specimens do not need shelter, but the roots of young plants require protection from freezing.
The tree tolerates periods of drought normally. Soft hawthorn is a drought-resistant crop that does not require abundant watering. On the contrary, an excess of moisture will have a detrimental effect on the root system.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Semi-soft hawthorn is affected by infections that worsen its appearance and also reduce resistance to negative external factors. The main ailments of semi-soft hawthorn: various spots, rust, powdery mildew, rot.
Pests also have a negative impact on semi-soft hawthorn. Dangerous are the bud mite, scale insect, false scale insect, sawfly, weevil, scale insect, and apple aphid.
Features of planting and care
For full development, soft hawthorn, like other types of shrubs, requires compliance with care rules. In order for the fruits to be soft, large and tasty, you should choose a good planting location for the plant.
Recommended timing
In garden plots, it is preferable to plant semi-soft hawthorn in spring or autumn. Planting in autumn is considered more successful. Before frost, the root system is able to strengthen and adapt to the new soil. During the winter, it gains strength for the further process of vegetation. The soft hawthorn blooms in May, and the fruiting process begins closer to September. As a rule, a tree planted in the fall blooms in the spring.
Selecting a suitable location and preparing the soil
The varietal description of soft hawthorn states: planting will be most successful if you choose a sunny place for it in the garden. Open areas protected from the wind are optimal for the plant. As for the desired substrate, the situation is simpler. Semi-soft hawthorn grows well in any soil, even dense and heavy soil. It’s great if the selected area has a rich humus layer.
Before planting, fertilize the soil in advance. To fill the hole, combine turf soil, humus, peat and sand in proportions 2:2:1:1. In addition, manure and topsoil can be added to the planting mixture. The desired soil acidity is pH 7.5-8. It is worth noting that soft hawthorn has a highly branched, powerful, long root system. This factor must be taken into account when forming a recess.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
It is not recommended to plant fruit trees with semi-soft hawthorn bushes. They have poor compatibility due to the same diseases. It is believed that soft hawthorn attracts pests that are dangerous to the apple tree. The distance between crops should be at least 300 m.
Landing algorithm
- In the selected area, dig a hole measuring 70x70 cm.
- A drainage layer of broken brick, crushed stone or expanded clay, 15 cm thick, is laid at the bottom.
- 30–40 g of lime or 50 g of phosphate rock are also sent to the pit.
- A semi-soft hawthorn seedling is placed in the center of the recess and sprinkled with earth. There is no need to deepen the root collar; it should be 3-5 cm above the ground surface.
- The soil around the roots is carefully poured and compacted.
- At the end, you need to water the soft young hawthorn with warm water.
- At the end of planting, the circle around the trunk is mulched with peat.
You can use the fan planting method. Several plants are placed in one hole. The result is a beautiful and compact group. If you plan to plant another tree, then the distance between them should be left within 2 m.
Aftercare
The semi-soft variety of hawthorn is undemanding in care, but this does not mean that it is completely canceled. When growing shrubs, you should devote time to weeding, pruning, and fertilizing.
- Soft hawthorn is not a moisture-loving plant. In cool weather, it will be enough to pour 10 liters of water under the bush. This volume is enough for a month; you shouldn’t moisturize more often. Because excess moisture can lead to rotting of the roots and death of the plant itself. On hot days, semi-soft hawthorn needs to be watered 2-3 times a month.
- For proper development and a decent harvest of berries, the crop must be nourished. It is recommended to apply fertilizers 2 times per season. First time: in early spring before the beginning of the growing season, using nitrophoska. The second time - during flowering, use slurry, 8 liters per tree.
- Every spring, the circle around the trunk is dug up to a depth of 15-20 cm. Immediately after this, mulch. Mulch prevents the appearance weed, retains moisture in the soil. Sawdust, hay, and straw are used as mulch. The mulching layer should be no thinner than 10 cm. At the end of the season, the natural material is removed, and the soil under the semi-soft hawthorn is dug up.Before wintering, the mulch layer is laid again to protect the roots from frost.
- In early spring, preventive pruning is carried out, removing dry, diseased, damaged branches. The tree is thinned out to provide access to air and light. Branches growing upward are also shortened.
- It is necessary to decide on a permanent place for semi-soft hawthorn before the age of six. Over time, the root system grows and replanting becomes impossible.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Semi-soft (softish) hawthorn is usually affected by fungal diseases. Prevention is spraying with a fungicide. Wood processing takes place at approximately the same time as garden trees. The pest is controlled using insecticides.
Features of reproduction
Basically, experienced gardeners use 2 methods of propagation: layering and cuttings. You can get semi-soft (soft) hawthorn through seeds, but this process is quite labor-intensive and troublesome.
For cuttings you will need samples 10-12 cm long. They are added in drops in early spring or autumn in the greenhouse. And when the cuttings get stronger and begin to grow, it’s time to replant them in a permanent place.
Areas of the plant that have their own root system are suitable as layering. Such cuttings must be dug up and separated from the mother rhizome using a sharp knife. Then plant it in a separate hole with pre-installed drainage.
Application in landscape design
The semi-soft (softish) hawthorn variety is particularly decorative. The bushes amaze with their beauty from early spring until late autumn. The dense crown and bright flowers immediately attract attention.Most often, this variety is used to make hedges. As they grow, the branches of the tree become an impenetrable fence, not inferior in reliability to brick and metal materials. As you can see in the photo, soft hawthorn can be made in the style of bonsai.
Conclusion
Soft hawthorn is a plant that does not require careful care. Grows well even in unfertilized soils. Develops quickly. Semi-soft hawthorn is preferred by connoisseurs of personal space. A hedge of trees will become an impenetrable and impenetrable obstacle due to its long and sharp thorns.
