Content
- The hawthorn - shrub and hedge plant at the same time
- Choose the right hawthorn
- Plant hawthorn properly
- Hawthorn as a crop
The hawthorn - shrub and hedge plant at the same time
From the beginning of May, you will bloom again in numerous gardens and parks - magnificent trees, strewn with white flowers, up to five meters high. Hard to believe that these are the same plants that can just as well form an impenetrable hedge with long thorns.
In autumn, the white blossom dream turns into a myriad of tiny red fruits, which not only give a tasty compote, but which one even says a healing effect. We're talking about hawthorn, a beautiful and easy-care ornamental shrub that you can easily plant yourself.
Choose the right hawthorn
In nurseries and garden centers you will find a large number of different types of hawthorn. Occasionally, the plant is also sold under the name hedge thorn, dandelion or Zaundorn. For the botanical layman, the individual species are difficult to distinguish, especially as they form numerous hybrids among each other.
The native hawthorn is suitable as a hedge plant due to its good trimmability. If you plan to grow free-standing hawthorn shrubs, it's best to choose Asian or North American species. These are particularly noticeable in the autumn by much larger and more decorative fruits.
Be sure to buy young plants as they grow much more easily than older ones.
Plant hawthorn properly
Like all ornamental shrubs, it is best to plant hawthorns in the spring or fall before the first frost. Container plants are the easiest to process.Lift out a sufficiently large planting hole and put in the root ball together with attached soil. After filling with garden soil, do not forget to squeeze them well and to water the new plant thoroughly.
Ordinary garden soil is sufficient for the planting, a special substrate is not necessary. Hawthorns are generally quite frugal in their soil requirements, with a loamy soil usually favoring their growth.
The favorite location of a hawthorn is the blazing sun. Even a heat accumulation can cope with most plants easily. Many plants are sold as shade plants, but stay out of the direct sun rather small.
Hawthorn as a crop
The hawthorn has a centuries-long tradition as a medicinal plant. Hawthorn Sud is considered to promote blood circulation and cardiovascular. For teas and tinctures you can use all plant parts.
In addition, from the red fruits of the hawthorn in autumn a tasty jam can be made.