Content
Common hawthorn is a tall, spreading bush that looks more like a tree. In Europe, it is found everywhere. In Russia, it is grown in central Russia and in the south. It grows and develops well in areas located near the sea.
Breeding history and distribution area
In nature, there are more than 200 species of hawthorn. This culture is well pollinated, and every year new species of this plant appear. Smoothed hawthorn (common) is common in Western Europe. It was introduced 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, plantings. It grows well in humid marine climates and on rocky soil. In the photo you can see what the prickly hawthorn looks like:
This species became a cultivated plant thanks to the breeder Michurin. He bred such varieties of common hawthorn as Ryazan and Pomegranate. In Russia, the culture is not grown for industrial purposes. It is used for landscaping urban park areas and personal plots. For these purposes, decorative trees and shrubs are used, including large-thorn hawthorn.
Description of prickly hawthorn
It 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 grow stiff.
A distinctive feature of this type of hawthorn is thorns up to 2-5 cm long, which are modified shoots. Cultivated varieties have few of them. In wild bushes, all branches are covered with sharp thorns.
The leaves are oblong, dark green on top, on the back side - light, toothed. In the fall, the leaf turns bright orange or scarlet.
The culture blooms in spring, early or mid-May, in cold climates - in June. Flowers are small in size, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, white or pink, collected in erect inflorescences of 5-10 pieces. The petals are wide, rounded, narrowing towards the center of the flower, acquiring the shape of a triangle.
Fruits are round, less often oval, up to 10 mm in diameter. More often red or orange, but there are varieties with white and yellow berries. The pulp is fleshy and juicy. There are 2-3 flat bones inside the fruit, their length is 7mm. The berries do not differ in a special taste. The first fruits ripen in August.
Common hawthorn grows on clay, 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.
Species characteristics
A description of the common hawthorn would not be complete without its characteristics.This is an unpretentious plant that needs regular watering, loosening the soil, and top dressing. All these procedures will have a beneficial effect on the growth and fruiting of the shrub.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Common hawthorn does not tolerate drought. In hot summer for good fruiting, it is watered once a month. 1 bucket of water is consumed per bush. In the absence of rain for a long time, watering the hawthorn can be done more often - up to 2-3 times a month. If it rains regularly in the summer in the growing region, additional watering is not needed. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture in the soil.
The common hawthorn tolerates winter well. Trees older than 5 years, which have formed a strong root system, the trunk and branches are covered with stiff 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, sawdust.
Disease and pest resistance
Common hawthorn can suffer from pests of fruit and berry plants: aphids, leaf rollers, spider mites, scale insects. Diseases can manifest 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
For planting, choose seedlings older than 2 years. The distance between plants should be at least 1 m. It is best to root the bush on soil rich in black soil. The close location of groundwater is undesirable for him.
Recommended timing
Common hawthorn is planted in the ground in late spring or autumn before the onset of frost. The autumn period is preferable, since the plant will undergo hardening during the winter and this will stimulate its growth.
Choosing a suitable site and preparing the soil
For planting common hawthorn, open, well-lit areas are suitable. A slight darkening can stunt the growth of the plant. Even a hedge should be in direct sunlight.
The shrub can grow on any soil. If the main goal is to get a good harvest, heavy chernozems with a low lime content are chosen. The soil for planting is fertilized with a mixture of humus, sand, peat in equal parts. After that, the soil must be well loosened. Good drainage is essential 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 are well pollinated and give a high yield. A single plant can be surrounded by other low-growing shrubs or flowers. Common hawthorn does not tolerate shading well, therefore, it is not recommended to plant tall crops next to it. But in some sources there is a description of how well the common hawthorn grows in the shade of conifers.
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. The hole is dug about 60 cm deep and about a meter in diameter. They are guided by the size of the rhizome. All layering should be free in the pit.
Landing is performed as follows:
- The seedling rhizome is soaked for half an hour in a solution of water and a growth stimulator.
- At the bottom of the pit, drainage is made from a layer of expanded clay, brick fragments, rubble.
- 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 the layers are straightened and fit freely.
- The rhizome is covered with a prepared fertile mixture. The ground is being trampled.
- The plant is watered with a bucket of water.
- After that, the soil is sprinkled with a layer of peat, at least 5 cm.
Follow-up care
Caring for common hawthorn is simple, but you must not allow the soil to dry out and feed the plant in time. Pruning in autumn and spring is also important in its care. This will form a beautiful crown and increase yields.
Pruning
If 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 there are broken, diseased shoots or branches on the bush, 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 with peat, sawdust, fallen leaves. They are thrown over the root zone, around the trunk and lower branches.
In winter, when precipitation falls, you can cover the shrub with a layer of snow. In this way, other garden trees are also insulated.
Watering
In a rainy summer, the hawthorn does not need watering. If the season is dry, the shrub 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 weeds and dig up the soil. Stagnation of moisture near the trunk of the plant should not be allowed.
Top dressing
In the spring, before flowering, common hawthorn is poured with a solution of manure in water (1:10). This stimulates its growth and flowering. This feeding will be enough for the shrub 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 a spruce tree, not tightly 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 many pests, feeders with poisonous drugs are installed in different parts of the garden.
It is necessary to follow the instructions for the preparation and remember about the safety of pets and birds.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Dangerous pests for prickly hawthorn (common) are aphids, leafworm, scale insect. To prevent their appearance, it is necessary to remove fallen and dry leaves and branches around the shrub in time. It is also important to systematically uproot the weeds.
As a prophylactic chemical, treatment with a Nitrafen solution is used until foliage appears. For the destruction of pests, spraying with a solution of Chlorophos is used. 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 bright color of flowers. The interesting shape of the crown and the bizarre bends of the shoots will become a real decoration of the garden.
Common hawthorn is used for the following purposes:
- landscaping empty areas;
- creation of hedges;
- combined planting of shrubs with spireas;
- creating alleys.
The plant tolerates pruning well: any patterns and shapes can be formed from its crown. And the sharp thorns of the 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 versatile plant that is used for decorative purposes and for fruiting. It is easy to care for and even easier to propagate.A hedge of a lush plant with thorny thorns will be impenetrable for outsiders. With proper care, such a fence will not only be a reliable shelter, but also a real garden decoration.
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