The carmine-red umbel flowers make the hawthorn a particularly attractive hawthorn variety. It is all the more deplorable when the hedgerow doesn't want to bloom properly. Why could this be and what can you do? Read on!
Why isn't my hawthorn blooming?
A hawthorn will not bloom if it gets too little sun, the soil is too nutrient-poor or if it is pruned too late. Remedy: add more light, nutrient-rich compost and prune early in the summer.
An abundance of flowers can be expected
Actually, the common hawthorn, Latin Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet', is a real flower-loving fellow. And the abundant, carmine-red splendor doesn't actually require much care. As long as the hawthorn has a reasonably species-appropriate location and is he althy, it should not be deprived of its early summer colors.
Possible flowering-inhibiting factors
However, it still happens from time to time that a hawthorn blooms very sparsely or not at all.
Possible reasons could be:
- Too little sun
- Soil too poor in nutrients
- Pruning too late
Location too shady?
In general, hawthorn thrives best in full sun. But too little light can have a significant impact not only on the growth itself, but especially on the formation of flowers. Did the thorny bush perhaps end up in a location that was too shady from the start? Or maybe surrounding trees have grown over his head? If necessary, shorten neighboring trees that have become too tall. Moving the deep-rooted hawthorn is not recommended.
Soil too poor in nutrients?
Like the hawthorn, the hawthorn also needs nutrient-rich and moist soil. If it is not saturated enough through the roots, it can of course use less energy to develop flowers. Provide it with good, ripe compost every year and keep the soil evenly moist.
Cut away the flower roots?
The hawthorn tends to grow sprawling and bulky if left alone. However, there is usually not enough space or aesthetic tolerance for this in the garden. Especially if it is cultivated as a hedge plant or as a solitary ornamental tree with certain shape requirements, the hedge trimmer (€24.00 on Amazon) must be used regularly. This is also quite possible because the hawthorn is very easy to cut.
The problem: It must not be cut too late - otherwise you may unintentionally remove the early blossoms for the coming year on the two-year-old wood. So cut your hawthorn into shape as soon as possible after it has bloomed, i.e. in early summer. This gives you the desired silhouette without affecting next year's flower production; the rejuvenating, revitalizing effect of pruning can even have a positive effect.
