The service pear is a wild tree that is increasingly conquering gardens. When growing in the garden, the natural location should be reproduced as closely as possible, because that is where the shrubs develop best.
In a nutshell
- prefers well drained garden soil
- Plant in a full sun spot if possible
- Shade the tree pit with mulch or suitable companion plants
- a culture in the tub is possible
- fill a drainage layer in the bucket to avoid waterlogging
Table of contents
- Natural Locations
- Floor
- lighting conditions
- Culture in the bucket
- frequently asked Questions
Natural Locations
The pear bears its name for a reason, because it prefers rocky slopes as a location. They are often found at the edges of valleys or in mixed oak forests. In the Alps it likes to grow together with mountain pines.
Characteristics of natural sites:
- light open spaces
- rocky
- sunny
- dry and warm
- permeable
- low in nutrients and humus
- calcareous soil
The service pear is flexible in a few points. For example, it can also cope with slightly acidic soils and also develops well on humus-rich soil. The advantage, however, is that the pear is very undemanding in terms of nutrient supply are concerned, which is why it grows well in the garden even in a location that is not easy to grow planting is.
Floor
Due to the adaptability of the service pear, a suitable soil can be found in almost every garden. The most important soil requirement is high permeability. The pear tree does not tolerate waterlogging and the bushes can die in the worst case.
soil condition:
- permeable (mix substrate with sand and gravel if necessary)
- preferably slightly calcareous
- normal nutrient content
- slightly fresh in summer
The native pear (Amelanchier ovalis) is already very adaptable. Even more flexible in terms of soil are the copper service pear (Amelanchier lamarckii) or the Japanese service pear (Amelanchier asiatica).
lighting conditions
The pear is an absolute sun worshiper, but would like to be shaded at the foot. This should be taken into account when planting and when choosing the appropriate companions.
Suitable companion plants:
- Common cotoneaster (Cotoneaster integerrimus)
- Burnet rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia)
- Juniper (Juniperus communis)
- Common broom (Cytisus scoparius)
- Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys)
- Blue fescue (Festuca cinerea)
You can plant other fruit trees as an accompaniment. However, make sure that the perennials do not pose too much competition for the service pear in terms of light. An alternative to planting is a layer of mulch around the tree pit. For example, it is suitable bark mulch or grass clippings. This has the advantage that a layer of humus forms around the service pear and the soil remains loose and permeable.
The service pear tolerates partial shade, but develops much worse there. In particular, the willingness to flower is lower and the associated lower yields.
A sunny spot in the garden is ideal. For example, a central spot in the garden that receives plenty of light from all sides is suitable. You can also plant the pear on a house wall that faces south. In this case you have the advantage that the wall reflects the light and also stores the heat that it gives off again in the evening hours.
Culture in the bucket
The service pear reaches heights of growth of up to four metres. This makes it well suited for culture in a bucket. In terms of lighting conditions, the requirements are the same. In the bucket culture you have the advantage that you can mix an optimal substrate.
substrate:
- two parts universal earth
- a part garden soil
- two parts gravel sand
First fill the bucket with a drainage layer. Expanded clay or lava granules are suitable for this. The drainage layer prevents waterlogging. Choose a container that offers the pear enough space. There should be at least a hand's width between the root ball and the edge of the pot.
frequently asked Questions
Yes, you can integrate the pear in a wild fruit hedge. In this case, make sure that all shrubs have enough space. This will prevent the service pear from growing too tall. However, a solitary location for the plant is more optimal. There, the pear with its beautiful flowers comes into its own.
No, even on partially shaded places it easily gets through the winter without additional protection. Even young plants are frost-resistant. However, you should free young service pears from the load during heavy snowfall so that no shoots break. When cultivating in a tub, you should protect the root ball from frost. To do this, wrap the planter thickly with a jute sack.
Yes, you can also choose a roadside as a location for the pear, for example, which is salted in winter. Nevertheless, check the soil pH value in spring and sprinkle some lime to balance the pH value again.
