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Hawthorn Rooster Spur is the leader among other varieties in terms of the size of thorns. The plant gets its name from its long, curved, sharp shoots. Therefore, when forming a hedge, there is no equal to it. However, this variety is valuable not only for this. Rooster spur is an unpretentious and durable type of hawthorn.
Breeding history
The natural habitat of the hawthorn variety Rooster spur is the southern territory of Canada and the American states: North Carolina, Kansas. The plant can be found on forest edges, river banks, mountain slopes, in valleys. In 1656, the Rooster's spur hawthorn began to be cultivated in Russia and the countries of Western Europe. It grows successfully in the Baltics, Ukraine, Lipetsk and Voronezh regions, in colder regions there are cases of freezing. In Central Asia, it requires additional watering.
Description of Hawthorn Rooster Spur
Hawthorn Rooster spur is a small tree, up to 12 m in height. Most often found in the form of a large shrub. The crown is densely branched, spherical, set low, almost flat. The branches grow horizontally, bare, zigzag. The color of the shoots is reddish brown with a shiny tint. The trunk diameter is 20-30 cm. The bark is ash-gray with a brown tint. The structure is lamellar.
On the Rooster's spur hawthorn there are numerous thorns 3-10 cm long. On older branches, the spines are branched, growing up to 20 cm.
The foliage is ovoid or oval, with 3 or 4 pairs of lobes. Leaf size is 4-10 cm long and up to 3 cm wide. The base is cut, broadly wedge-shaped. The apex is pointed. The leaves are at first strongly lowered, gradually becoming bare. Over time, pubescence remains only on the veins. On the edge of the foliage has a jagged edging. In summer, the leaves are leathery, dark green with a glossy sheen. In the fall season, they are colored red or orange. The petiole is 1-2 cm long.
Hawthorn variety Rooster's spur blooms in large inflorescences of 12-15 flowers. They have no pubescence. Corolla size in diameter is 1.5 cm Sepals are red, triangular-lanceolate. When the fetus is bent down. 10 stamens.
The fruits of the hawthorn variety Rooster's spur are spherical, greenish-brown, at the time of ripening they acquire a pale red color with a light bluish bloom. The pulp is somewhat dryish, dense, orange in color. Ripe fruits have a tart, astringent taste. They remain on the tree throughout the cold season.
Characteristics of the variety
Hawthorn Rooster's spur has a number of different decorative forms:
- dwarf - almost open bush;
- narrow-leaved - with graceful linear-lanceolate leaves;
- prickly - shoots are devoid of thorns;
- large-fruited - with brightly colored fruits up to 2.5 cm in diameter.
Drought resistance and frost resistance
The hawthorn Rooster spur has a relative winter hardiness. Frost resistance zone "5a". In colder areas, shelter is required for the winter.Meanwhile, the plant tolerates urban conditions and air pollution well. The variety is wind-resistant. Hawthorn Rooster's spur is drought-resistant, does not require additional watering.
Productivity and fruiting
The flowering period of the hawthorn variety Rooster spur begins in June. The fruiting period begins in September-October. Ripe berries have a rich, persistent aroma. Suitable for human consumption. From the fruits of the hawthorn Rooster spur, they prepare jelly, boil compotes, jelly, dry, eat fresh berries.
Disease and pest resistance
The main enemies of the hawthorn variety are Rooster's spur; apple and comma-shaped worms - infect the branches and trunk; apple aphid, leaf beetle, apple honeydew, hawthorn, ringed silkworm, ripped off - harm the foliage. The most acutely hawthorn Rooster spur carries diseases of powdery mildew and rust of foliage.
Advantages and disadvantages
The hawthorn variety Rooster's spur, like other varieties of this family, has certain strengths and weaknesses. The advantages include:
- drought resistance;
- undemanding to the growing environment;
- disease and pest resistance;
- regular fruiting;
- suitable for hedges;
- resistant to gas pollution and strong winds.
Disadvantages:
- slow growth of seedlings;
- the first fruiting occurs at the age of 10-15 years;
- does not tolerate pruning;
- thorny bark;
- relative frost resistance.
Landing features
Hawthorn varieties Rooster's spur is a non-capricious plant, it can grow in any conditions. The main thing is to correctly complete the landing procedure. Compliance with all the nuances will allow the culture to maintain decorative durability up to 40-50 years:
Recommended timing
Hawthorn varieties Rooster spur are recommended to be planted in the fall, during the period of leaf fall. However, spring planting is also acceptable. Only shrubs must be planted before sap flow begins.
Planting in the fall is considered more successful. Before frost, the root system is able to get stronger and adapt to new soil. During the winter, it gains strength for the further vegetation process. As a rule, a tree planted in the fall already blooms in the spring.
Choosing a suitable site and preparing the soil
Hawthorn Rooster spur develops better, blooms profusely and bears fruit in well-drained, sandy loam or loamy soils. Do not forget also about sunlight, of which there should be a lot on the site. Meanwhile, the plant is able to grow in partial shade. Open, wind-protected areas are ideal.
In group planting, Rooster's spur hawthorns are planted at a distance of 2-5 m, and in alley ones - 5-6 m. The best age for planting a tree in a permanent place is 3-5 years, older plants suffer quite a lot from transplanting.
Before planting, fertilize the soil in advance. To seal the pit, sod land, humus, peat and sand are combined in proportions of 2: 2: 1: 1. In addition, manure and the top of the soil can be added to the planting mixture. Desired soil acidity pH 7.5-8. It should be noted that the softish hawthorn has a highly branched, powerful, long root system. This factor must be taken into account when forming a depression.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby
Live, well-formed hedges are preferred to be planted at the border of the plots. But for fencing orchards where pears or apple trees are planted, the Rooster's spur hawthorn cannot be used. Since these plants have the same pests, and such an action will complicate the subsequent fight against parasites.
Selection and preparation of planting material
For planting, it is advisable to choose 2-3-year-old seedlings.Their height depends on the type of planting: for a two-row hedge, seedlings with a height of 1-1.5 m are suitable, for a single-row one they need larger ones. It is important that the plants have an equally developed root system and aerial part. If you plan to plant free-standing trees, then the planting material should be up to 2 m in height and up to 5 years old.
Before planting at a hawthorn seedling, the Rooster's spur shorten the lateral branches and the top by ½ the growth length, aligning with the total length of the plant. Broken roots are removed, cut too long.
Landing algorithm
- A 70x70 cm hole is dug in the selected area.
- A drainage layer of broken brick, crushed stone or expanded clay, 15 cm thick, is laid at the bottom of it.
- 30-40 g of lime or 50 g of phosphate rock is also sent to the pit.
- A hawthorn sapling of the Rooster Spur variety is placed in the center of the recess and sprinkled with earth. The root collar is not greatly deepened, it should be 3-5 cm above the ground.
- The soil around the roots is carefully poured and tamped.
- At the end, you need to water the young hawthorn Rooster spur with warm water.
- At the end of planting, the near-stem circle is mulched with peat.
Follow-up care
Hawthorn varieties Rooster spur easy to care for. Only simple rules and preventive measures are applied.
The hawthorn variety Rooster's spur is a drought-resistant plant. In cool weather, it will be enough to pour 10 liters of water under the bush. This volume is enough not to water it at all for a month, since excess moisture can lead to decay of the roots and the death of the plant itself. On hot days, the Rooster's spur hawthorn should be moistened up to 3 times a month.
After moistening, loosen the soil to a depth of 15 cm. It should be removed regularly weeds... In the fall, dig in the area around the perimeter of the crown.
In early spring, preventive pruning is carried out, removing dry, diseased, damaged branches. The tree is thinned out, providing air and light access. Branches that grow up are also shortened.
A shrub of the hawthorn variety, Rooster's spur, can be ruined by severe frosts. In places with a harsh climate, it is recommended to cover the root system. For this, as a rule, a mulching layer of hay, straw, dry leaves is used. Cover the periosteal circle with a layer 10-15 cm thick.
For proper development and obtaining a decent harvest of berries, the hawthorn of the Rooster Spur variety must be nourished. It is recommended to apply fertilizers 2 times per season. The first time in early spring before the beginning of the growing season, using nitrophosphate. The second time - during flowering, use slurry, 8 liters under a tree.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
To maintain the decorative qualities and obtain abundant flowering in the hawthorn of the Rooster Spur variety, it is necessary to identify lesions in a timely manner and take measures to eliminate them. The fight against harmful insects means:
- treatment with soap, tobacco solution - from aphids, scale insects;
- 0.1% metaphos, 0.3% karbofos - from apple scale insects, leaf blocks, silkworms;
- colloidal sulfur solution saves from ticks and hawthorn.
Spraying with systemic fungicides is best for treating fungal diseases.
Application in landscape design
The hawthorn variety Rooster's spur has an attractive appearance all year round. In spring they delight with gentle flowering, in summer - with fruits with various colors, in autumn the foliage changes shades, becoming red, orange, yellow, in winter - a compact crown. The shrub is often used as a hedge, thanks to its long thorns and good tenacity.Planted as free-standing trees or as a group. Hawthorn Rooster's spur looks great as an element of landscape composition for alley plantings, sparse forest plantations.
Conclusion
Hawthorn Rooster's spur is widely used for landscaping city parks, squares, and personal plots. And this is not without reason, since the plant is durable, undemanding to the composition of the soil, drought-resistant, decorative. A number of useful qualities provide him with well-deserved popularity.
