Watering hawthorn

• Hawthorn origin
• Hawthorn care and location
• Pruning hawthorn
• Fertilizing hawthorn
• Watering hawthorn

Hawthorn origin

Hawthorn (Crataegus) is a genus of plants belonging to the rose family. There are over 200 species native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. They reach a height of between 2 and 10 meters and an age of up to 100 years. Hawthorn is considered to be very long-lived and robust and grows in many different soils and climates. It is particularly common in forests and on forest edges, as well as in parks and gardens. The hawthorn blossoms appear in May and June in white and pink colors and are very attractive to insects and birds. 
The hawthorn has smooth, oval leaves that are about 5 to 10 cm long. The upper surface of the leaves is glossy and dark green, while the underside is somewhat duller and lighter. The leaves have serrated or toothed edges and are slightly wavy at the edges. They grow in pairs on the branches. The fruits of the hawthorn are small red berries that ripen from August to October. These fruits are edible and often used in cooking, for example, to make jam or liqueur.

In folklore and traditional medicine, hawthorn has been used for centuries to treat cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. It is also often used in herbal medicine to strengthen the heart and improve circulation. In landscaping, hawthorn is often used as a hedge or as a specimen tree due to its attractive flowers and fruit.

Hawthorn care and location

Hawthorn prefers a sunny to partially shaded location with well-drained soil that is moist, humus-rich, and nutrient-rich. It can grow in any soil type, but prefers fresh, loamy soil. The best time to plant hawthorn is in autumn or spring.

Pruning hawthorn

To keep the hawthorn in shape and promote growth, regular Cutting measures necessary. Training pruning is used to shape the hawthorn's growth in the first few years. This involves removing superfluous shoots and shaping the tree into the desired shape. Rejuvenation pruning is carried out to keep the tree vital and strong. Older shoots are removed and space is made for new ones. Maintenance pruning removes diseased, damaged, or dead shoots, as well as unwanted branches and runners. Hawthorn is best pruned in the winter months or early spring, as the plant is dormant during this time and pruning is less stressful.

Fertilize hawthorn?

Hawthorn usually does not require additional fertilizationIt is an undemanding plant and can thrive in most soils. However, if the soil is particularly poor in nutrients, it is advisable to add organic fertilizer such as horn shavings or compost in the spring. The fertilizer is applied to the soil and lightly worked in. To avoid over-fertilization, an analysis of the nutrient content of the soil is recommended beforehand.

Watering hawthorn

Due to climate change, it is getting hotter in our regions, resulting in longer dry periods. This has an impact on the environment and especially on trees. The increasing dryness and rising temperatures lead to stress in trees. Depending on the location and the climatic situation, more frequent Water than was necessary in previous years. The newly planted hawthorn still needs to establish roots and needs a lot of water, but even with fully grown trees, care should be taken to ensure that the soil remains evenly moist. The water requirement of a hawthorn depends on several factors, such as the length of the dry period and the condition of the tree. As a general rule, 15 to 20 liters per square meter can be estimated for young trees and 5 to 7 liters for older trees per watering. Hawthorns are shallow-rooted and have many small roots close to the surface. With conventional watering using a hose, a lot of water reaches the soil all at once, and a lot of the moisture evaporates or flows away before it can reach the roots.

With tree bath watering bags watering is more efficient and water is saved. Drip irrigation continuously releases water into the soil, allowing the shallow roots to absorb the water better. Attaching and filling the water bags is simple and straightforward. By filling a watering bag, young trees are provided with sufficient water. In order to water larger trees sufficiently in very dry periods, it is possible to connect two or more watering bags together. A mulch layer of bark compost in the root area is helpful in keeping the moisture in the soil.