Hawthorn: planting and care in the open field.

Hawthorn is a very healthy plant with bright red fruits that ripen in autumn. Usually it is either a shrub or a tree that grows on slopes that are well lit by the sun. The branches of the hawthorn are quite thorny, and the fruit is round in shape with large seeds. This plant loves forest edges and heavy clay soils. The wood of the hawthorn is strong, therefore, it is believed that this plant can live for about 400 years. Also, hawthorn is considered an excellent ornamental plant species.

Features of culture.

Most summer residents grow hawthorn in order to collect useful medicinal fruits and then add them to tea in winter, to consume it fresh. In addition, the hawthorn has very beautiful inflorescences. The height of the trees reaches 4-5 meters. But, having created favorable conditions for the development of the plant, the tree can grow up to 10 meters in height. The crown of this tree has a rounded shape, and that of shrubs is pyramidal. The bark of this plant is really very dense, even the name of this culture in translation means strong. The bark of the tree is ribbed, with small cracks. There are a lot of thorns along the trunk and branches, so you should always carefully collect the hawthorn by hand.

The leaves of this culture are diamond-shaped or rounded, cut into lobes or slightly curled. Interestingly, the color of the leaves of the hawthorn changes during the season. In summer, this plant has a bright green color, and by September, early October, the hawthorn is one of the first to demonstrate the arrival of autumn. Its leaves turn orange, yellow and red. But the hawthorn has varieties that are always green, and therefore leaves fly around in the fall in the same form. The inflorescence of the hawthorn is umbrella-shaped, the flowers are pale pink or white. Sometimes the inflorescences are collected in small bouquets. However, despite the beauty of the plant, hawthorn flowers smell unpleasant. Hawthorn usually blooms in spring or early summer. And the fruits ripen by September.

How to plant a hawthorn.

Very often, hawthorn is used by gardeners to create a hedge on the site. This culture is unpretentious. Usually, hawthorns are planted one by one only in order to collect as much of the crop as possible. And if you need a green fence, then the plants are planted crowded. Hawthorn is planted in spring and autumn. This crop loves well-lit areas and heavy but nutritious soil. As we mentioned above, in order to choose the right place for planting hawthorn, you need to determine the goals of growing the crop in advance. If you want to get a crop, then you plant the hawthorn at a distance of 200 cm from each other, this will allow the crop to pollinate well and give abundant fruits. If you need a hedge, then the distance should be shortened and always remember about pruning.

Sand, compost or humus are usually added to the planting pit. You can add a little lime. Remember that the place for planting seedlings should be well lit by the sun. The hawthorn will not grow in crowded and shaded areas. And, even more so, bear fruit abundantly. It is best to plant two-year-old seedlings. When planting, the roots must be well straightened. And water the plant abundantly. Then the ground around the bush or tree must be well tamped and mulched.

Hawthorn care.

As we have already noted, this is an unpretentious plant. However, it is also necessary to feed it on time, weed and cut it, and also do not forget to process it from various pests if necessary. Do not forget to remove dried and frozen branches. Don't be afraid to prune the plant, it is quite pruning resistant.Formative pruning is often necessary. This is necessary in order to form a certain shape of the crown or to form a hedge. Most often, pruning is performed in early spring before the start of sap flow. Each bush should have five or six skeletal branches, which you should never prune.

Do not water the hawthorn too often. It is drought tolerant. It is enough to water once a month, at the rate of 10 liters per 1 bush. But if the summer is hot enough, you will need to water more often. Do not forget to loosen the trunk circle after watering, as the earth becomes clogged over time and the soil does not breathe, and moisture evaporates quickly without penetrating into the deep layers. In the fall, you will need to dig in the bushes and trees around the perimeter. Remember that plants can be replanted until they are five years old. But when transplanting, the pit must be appropriate to the size of the root system of a tree or bush.

Hawthorn: diseases

Hawthorn also needs to be protected from various pests and diseases. And it can be struck by powdery mildew, brown, gray, white, yellow spot. The hawthorn is often attacked by green aphids and rosaceous leafworms. All this must be dealt with and the plants must be treated in time. Hawthorn has been used since ancient times to cleanse the blood, for intestinal and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, if you have a little free space on the site, you should plant this plant. And besides, it is not very difficult to take care of him.