From the beginning of May they will bloom again in numerous gardens and parks - magnificent trees covered in white flowers, up to five meters high. It's hard to believe that these are the same plants that can just as easily form an impenetrable hedge with long thorns.
How to plant a hawthorn in the garden?
To plant a hawthorn, first select the right species for your garden. Plant in spring or autumn, use conventional garden soil and ideally place the hawthorn in a sunny location. Water the new plant thoroughly.
In autumn, the white flower dream turns into countless tiny red fruits, which not only make a tasty compote, but are even said to have healing properties. We're talking about the hawthorn, a beautiful and easy-care ornamental tree that you can easily plant yourself.
Choosing the right hawthorn
In nurseries and garden centers you will find a large number of different types of hawthorn. Occasionally the plant is also sold under the names hedge thorn, whitebeam tree or fence thorn. For the botanical layman, the individual species are difficult to distinguish, especially since they form numerous hybrids with one another.
The native hawthorn is ideal as a hedge plant due to its easy pruning. If you plan to plant free-standing hawthorn bushes, it's best to choose Asian or North American species. These are particularly noticeable in autumn because of their significantly larger and more decorative fruits.
Make sure to buy young plants, as they grow much more easily than older specimens.
Planting hawthorn correctly
Like all ornamental trees, hawthorns are best planted in spring or autumn before the first frost. Container plants are the easiest to process. Dig a sufficiently large planting hole and place the root ball and the attached soil in it. After filling with garden soil, don't forget to tamp it down well and water the new plant thoroughly.
Ordinary garden soil is sufficient for planting, a special substrate is not necessary. Hawthorns are generally quite frugal in their soil requirements, with loamy soil generally favoring their growth.
A hawthorn's favorite location is the full sun. Most plants can even cope with heat build-up without any problems. Although many plants are sold as shade plants, they remain rather small outside of direct sun.
Hawthorns as useful plants
The hawthorn has a centuries-long tradition as a medicinal plant. Hawthorn decoction is considered to promote blood circulation and strengthen the heart. You can use all parts of the plant for teas and tinctures.
The red fruits of the hawthorn can also be used to make a tasty jam in autumn.
