Watering blackthorn

• Blackthorn origin
• Blackthorn care and location
• Cutting blackthorn
• Watering blackthorn
• Fertilizing blackthorn

Blackthorn origin

The blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), also called sloe, sour plum or blackthorn, is a plant species from the plum genus and belongs to the rose family. It is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia and reaches a height of 2 to 5 m. The blackthorn is a shrub or small tree and can reach an age of up to 100 years.

Blackthorn is considered to be very robust and long-lived 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 flowers of the blackthorn appear before the leaves sprout in March/April and are white or pink in colour. They are five-petaled, hermaphroditic with a double perianth and radially symmetrical.
The blackthorn has green, egg-shaped to oblong leaves that are smooth and shiny. They are arranged in pairs on the branches and have a serrated edge. The leaves of the blackthorn are 2 to 5 cm long and 1 to 2 cm wide.
The fruits of the blackthorn are small black berries that ripen from July to September. These fruits are edible and are often used in cooking, for example to make jam or liqueur.

In folklore and traditional medicine, blackthorn has been used for centuries to treat digestive disorders and inflammation. It is also often used in herbal medicine to boost immunity and improve circulation.

Blackthorn care and location

Blackthorn prefers a sunny to partially shaded location with well-drained soil that should be dry to moist. It can grow in any soil type, but prefers sandy or loamy soil. The best time to plant blackthorn is in autumn or spring.

Cutting blackthorn

Regular pruning is useful to keep the blackthorn healthy and promote growth.
Rejuvenation pruning should be carried out annually in spring to keep the tree in shape and stimulate growth. Older, woody shoots are removed and the young shoots are cut back.
Topiary pruning is used to maintain and improve the desired shape of the tree. It can be done at any time as long as the plant is not flowering.
Maintenance pruning is designed to keep the tree in good health and can be done at any time. Damaged, diseased or dead branches are removed.

Watering blackthorn

Blackthorn prefers dry conditions and therefore usually requires less water than other plants. However, care should be taken to keep the soil moist during the first year of planting to encourage root growth. In subsequent years, blackthorn usually rarely requires additional water. Overwatering can damage the blackthorn's roots and should therefore be avoided.

Due to climate change, our regions are getting hotter and hotter, resulting in longer dry periods. This has an impact on the environment and especially on trees. The increasing dryness and rising temperatures are causing stress in trees. Depending on the location and the climate situation, more frequent watering may be necessary than in previous years.
Blackthorns have shallow roots and many small roots close to the surface. When watering with a hose, a lot of the water evaporates before it penetrates the soil and does not reach the blackthorn's roots. Further moisture is lost as it seeps past the roots into the soil.
A better way to water the blackthorn is with the help of tree bath watering bagsThe bags release water evenly over several hours as drip irrigation to the tree, allowing the roots to absorb the moisture well. In the first few weeks after planting, the soil should be kept moist to encourage root growth. After rooting, the blackthorn usually rarely needs additional water, but watering may be necessary during longer dry periods. The soil should not be kept constantly moist, as the blackthorn develops roots better in dry conditions and is more resistant to fungal diseases.

Fertilizing blackthorn

The blackthorn 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, an organic fertilizer such as horn shavings or compost should be applied to the soil in spring and lightly worked in.
To avoid over-fertilizing the blackthorn, it is advisable to first analyze the soil for its nutrient content.