Very few can claim to have sea buckthorn in their garden. This wild fruit tree is extremely ornamental, has edible fruits and is undemanding in terms of location and care. Reasons to take a closer look at it as a garden plant
How to successfully grow and care for sea buckthorn in the garden?
Sea buckthorn in the garden requires a sunny location, plenty of space and deep soil with a slightly acidic pH value. Care includes little watering and fertilizing, but regular cutting every two to three years. Cultivated varieties are better suited to avoid unwanted root runners.
Its value as an ornamental and commercial tree
Sea buckthorn is decorative all year round. If it's not its bright orange-yellow berries, which are present from late summer to winter, it's its silvery-green foliage that adds pretty accents to the garden world.
In addition to its ornamental value, sea buckthorn is an impressive useful plant. Its berries are edible and are among the most vitamin-rich fruits of all. Make sure to plant at least one male and one (better two) female specimens.
Ideal locations in the garden
Sea buckthorn feels at home where it is sunny and warm. Due to its height of up to 6 m and width of up to 4 m, it needs a lot of space and should not be planted under trees in the garden. He also values deep soil that has a slightly acidic pH value and a loose structure.
Suitable locations can be found, for example, on fence areas, hedges, in the background and on lawns. Over the years, sea buckthorn develops into an effective and natural privacy screen. At the same time, it can serve as a windbreak and to secure the substrate. Last but not least, it is a valuable bird feeder and protective tree. It can be combined well with:
- Aronia
- elderberry
- rowan tree
- Dog Rose
- Blackthorn
- Hawthorn
What care is necessary?
Sea buckthorn proves to be robust against diseases and pests. In addition, it does not require time-consuming care procedures like other trees in the garden. As he gets older, he's mostly managing on his own.
Watering can be neglected from the second year onwards. There is also no need to add fertilizer because sea buckthorn thrives on nutrient-poor substrates. Only one cut should be carried out every two to three years.
Tips & Tricks
Caution: Sea buckthorn prefers to form root runners with which it lifts path slabs and paving stones. Do not plant it directly next to sidewalks and rather choose cultivated varieties, as the wild species spreads more.
