Sloe hedge: plant and cut properly

Blackthorn or Prunus spinosa, as it is known in botanical terminology, is popular with bees and birds because of its flowers and berries. However, it needs proper care.

Location

The planting site should meet a number of criteria. These factors include:

• warm
• sunny to semi-sunny
• sheltered from the wind

The east and south sides are therefore ideal. However, windy or shaded areas are not suitable.

substrate

The sloe is not demanding in itself, but the soil must still correspond to the properties of the plants. The substrate should therefore meet the following points:

• permeable
• nutritious
• pH between 6 and 8.5
• dry

Plants - timing & procedure

When the sloe hedge is planted depends on the preparation. Container plants are best planted in spring or autumn. Bare root blackthorn is best planted in the fall.

In any case, it must be ensured that a frost-free day is chosen. In addition, the following steps must be followed:

Prepare excavation and soil

First, the excavation must be done. It is ideal to create a ditch for the hedge. The soil should be sifted to remove stones and roots. If the substrate tends to compact, sand, gravel or coconut fibers can be mixed in to make it more permeable.

add nutrients

Since sloes need nutrient-rich soil, the soil should be enriched with fertilizer. Compost, manure, leaves, but also long-term fertilizer or horn meal can be suitable. It is important to check the pH value of the substrate in advance and to select appropriate nutrient sources.

lay drainage

Since the blackthorn is very sensitive to waterlogging, drainage is recommended in areas with high groundwater or nearby bodies of water. A layer of coarse gravel or larger stones at the bottom of the planting hole ensures that the water can drain off better and that the roots are not directly in it.

insert plant

The planting hole should be at least twice as deep and as wide as the root ball. It is also important to ensure that sufficient fresh and loose substrate is available and that the plant is planted at the same depth as it was previously in the container.

Water

After planting and compacting the soil, the blackthorn should be watered generously. This encourages growth.

Protection

Whether the sloe hedge is planted in spring or autumn, frost protection is recommended in the beginning. By applying mulch, compost or straw, the soil is protected from freezing and the roots are protected.

distance when planting

If the sloes are to be planted as a hedge, a distance of one and a half to two meters between the plants makes sense. This initially appears very wide, but due to the expansive root ball and the broad growth, it makes sense for the supply.

waste

Blackthorn tolerates pruning well. However, a blend is not absolutely necessary. Without cutting, there are comparatively many berries on the branches. This benefits bees, butterflies and birds.

If the blackthorn is not shortened and shaped, it can quickly take on very large proportions. This can, for example, overshadow other plants or obstruct paths. In addition, the sloes can grow very dense over time, which makes them wonderfully suitable as a habitat for animals, but the inner branches can also become bare.

In any case, there are a few basics to keep in mind when blending. These are:

• choose a frost-free day for the measure
• Check the hedge for bird nests beforehand in spring and summer
• use sharp cutting tools
• Disinfect cutting tools before use

topiary

Due to the good pruning tolerance, sloes can be shaped and radically pruned without any problems. The best time to do this is in spring, right after flowering. It is important to first check the sloe hedge for bird nests.

If these are available, the cut should only be made in autumn. This is especially true if the hedge is to be severely cut back. Removing or shortening individual branches in order to preserve the shape is still possible at any time.

thinning

Thinning is best done in the fall. This removes any branches that are growing inward, crossing each other, or forming areas that are too dense.

care and fertilization

Apart from the waste, the sloe thorn is easy to care for. Watering, for example, is extremely rarely necessary. However, it should be fertilized, especially after cutting, as the loss of leaves also means that nutrients are lost. In addition, the reduced number of leaves reduces the photosynthesis performance.

For healthy growth, the following fertilizers can be used:

• horn meal or horn shavings
• long-term fertilizer
• compost

Fertilizing in spring and adding additional nutrients in late summer are ideal. In order to avoid chemical burns on the roots from the fertilizers, the fertilizer should either be applied directly before rain or poured over it afterwards. This distributes the nutrients evenly in the soil and prevents damage.

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