Hawthorn: 6 Reasons To Breed

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The hawthorn belongs to the category of universal plants. He is loved for its unpretentiousness and is used on a personal plot for various purposes. Consider 6 reasons to grow this shrub

Characteristics

Hawthorn is a fast growing, deciduous shrub. It is widely used in landscape design and gardening. The fruits are widely used in medicine and pharmacology. It grows on any soil, is resistant to frost, drought, has a decorative appearance throughout the growing season (abundant flowering, bright fruits, the crown turns orange-red in autumn).

Hawthorn grows in the form of a bush or a small tree, can reach 3-5 m, some species grow up to 10-12. In one place it can grow up to 300 years. The branches are strong, in many varieties they are covered with leafless spines 1-10 cm long, which makes this plant indispensable for creating impenetrable thickets.

Fruits in the form of a small elongated or round pear-shaped apple, 1-4 cm in size, the color is red, orange-yellow, pale or bright orange, sometimes almost black. In the middle lane, the following varieties of hawthorn are widespread: rooster's spur, blood-red, ordinary, point, Pontic.

How to use

The unpopularity of the hawthorn in our area is not justified by anything. The plant is undeservedly forgotten by summer residents and owners of private territories, although the bush has a decorative appearance, gives useful berries, grows quickly and does not require special care. Let's consider the main reasons for breeding.

Hedge

With the help of hawthorn, you can create reliable protection of the site. The thorns make the thickets impenetrable for humans and animals. The shrub can be formed at any height, it responds well to a haircut and holds any shape. Pruning is carried out no more than 1 time per season.

For the device of a hedge, the most suitable varieties of hawthorn are used: Arnold, Siberian (aka blood-red), Myagkovaty, Ordinary, Fan-shaped. The smallest spines (up to 1 cm) are in the Arnold variety, in the Soft - 7-9 cm.

Siberian is a slow-growing, undersized species (up to 4 m), begins to bear fruit in 10-15 years. The most hardy and prolific is the common hawthorn, has few thorns, reaches a height of 3-8 m without pruning. Arnold is considered the record holder in terms of growth rate. The best shape for a haircut is a pointed trapezoid, it maintains the density of the crown, the bottom of the trunks will not be exposed.

Garden decoration

Hawthorn fits harmoniously into any composition, decorates the territory all year round. At the end of May, at the beginning of June, flowering begins, depending on the variety, flower petals are white, pink, red, diameter 1-2 cm. The bush looks elegant for about 2 weeks.

In summer, a dense crown pleases with carved leaves. In August, the fruits begin to ripen and turn reddish. In autumn, the hawthorn fascinates with bright berries, the leaves are painted in an orange-purple color. The fruit stalks hold the berries until the beginning of winter (November, December).

Zoning and wind protection

Novice summer residents can do without stationary fences and make the edging of the plot from hawthorn. This plant will grow in any soil and will quickly create an impassable barrier. The dense crown serves as a green screen from the wind and prying eyes.

For zoning the territory, bushes can be planted along the site with a barbecue, next to the gazebo, fence off the garden from the lawn, hide unsightly buildings, compost structures, organize secluded corners protected from the wind. Regular haircuts help maintain the desired height and volume of the living fencing.

Honey plant

Hawthorn belongs to nectar-producing crops. The flowering shrub attracts pollinating insects, which has a beneficial effect on the yield. By the way, hawthorn honey is a rare species, it has a wide range of useful properties.

Fruit

In the form of a fruit and berry crop, the hawthorn will delight you with a bountiful harvest without your participation. Its berries are used to make kvass, jam, fruit drinks. They are used to prepare marshmallow, used for brewing tea.

Raw materials for health

For medicinal purposes, berries, flowers, hawthorn roots are used. In medicine, an extract from fruits and peduncles, an alcoholic tincture is popular, in folk medicine, an infusion and a decoction are used.

The properties of hawthorn help to fight heart ailments, reduce anxiety, increase blood supply in the brain and heart vessels. Infusions are used to reduce the climatic syndrome, astheno-neurotic conditions, hypertension.

Hawthorn is a multifunctional plant that will provide delicious berries, help decorate the site, create a hedge and improve health.