The sloe loves dry soils
Sloes prefer one sunny place in the garden. The shrub tolerates drought far better than too much moisture. The wild fruit bushes prefer loose soil, which should be rich in nutrients, permeable and calcareous. The frugal blackthorn can even cope with stony ground. The ideal pH value of the soil is 6 - 8.5.
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Plant blackthorn properly
- Dig the planting hole so large that there is space for the spreading roots
- Carefully remove diseased root shoots
- Mix the plant substrate with a suitable fertilizer
- Step into the soil so that any air holes at the roots close
- Water the shrub after planting
Sloes can be planted all year round. The best time to plant container plants is spring and autumn, root crops should always be planted in autumn. If you plan a sloe hedge to delimit the property, you must plan for two sloes per meter.
Set limits to the root shoots
Since sloes can reach a height of three meters, they are not suitable for underplanting other trees. When planting, make sure that the thorny bush grows through Runners spread. Garden owners often complain that they are in a lot of trouble with the blackthorn's root system, as it can form runners up to ten meters in length.
So that after a few years you don't have to laboriously dig up the roots or even remove the bush It is advisable to use a root barrier to keep the excessive growth within the desired framework keep. Concrete manhole rings fifty centimeters deep are recommended for this purpose.
Evergreen shrubs keep the sloe small
Due to the extensive roots, the sloe is ideal if you want to fortify a slope. If it is not possible for garden design reasons to create a root limitation in the soil, you can also replace the blackthorn with competing plants and regular pruning keep it small. Evergreen and rapidly growing deciduous shrubs such as the yew or cherry laurel are best suited for this.
Tips & Tricks
Concrete manhole rings are precast concrete parts that are mainly used in the tree of sewer pipes. You can get these in any well-stocked hardware store.
