The blackthorn or Prunus spinosa, as it is called 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. Windy or shaded areas, however, are not suitable.
Substrate
The blackthorn 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
Tip: Waterlogging should be avoided as a matter of urgency. It can therefore make sense to introduce additional drainage, for example.
Plants - timing & procedure
When the sloe hedge is planted depends on the preparation. Container plants are best planted in spring or autumn. Bare-rooted blackthorn is best planted in autumn.
In any case, it must be ensured that a frost-free day is chosen. Also, the following steps are too
follow:Prepare excavation and soil
First of all, the excavation must be carried out. It is ideal to create a trench for the hedge for this purpose. The earth 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 soil, manure, leaves but also long-term fertilizers or horn meal can be suitable. It is important to check the pH of the substrate in advance and to choose appropriate nutrient sources.
Lay drainage
Since the blackthorn is very sensitive to waterlogging, drainage is advisable 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 the plant
The planting hole should be at least twice as deep and as wide as the root ball. In addition, it must be ensured that there is sufficient fresh and loose substrate available and that the plant is inserted exactly as deep as it was previously in the container.
Water
After planting and compacting the earth, the blackthorn should be watered abundantly. This will make that
Growing favors.protection
Whether the sloe hedge is planted in spring or autumn, frost protection is always advisable initially. Applying mulch, compost or straw prevents the earth from freezing through and protects the roots.
Tip: Renting a mini excavator is recommended for digging the earth for longer hedges. This simplifies and speeds up the work.
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. At first, this seems very wide, but due to the spreading root ball and the broad growth, it makes sense for the supply.
Tip: If the distance to walls and paved paths is short, it makes sense to use a root barrier. It prevents the roots of the blackthorn from damaging the stones or pushing them out of position.
Waste
The blackthorn is easy to cut. However, a waste is not absolutely necessary. Without waste, there are a comparatively large number of berries on the branches. This benefits bees, butterflies and birds.
If the blackthorn is not shortened and shaped, it can, however, take on very large dimensions comparatively quickly. This can, for example, shade other plants or impair paths. In addition, the sloes can grow very dense over time, which makes them ideal as a habitat for animals, but the inner branches can also bare.
In any case, there are a few basics to pay attention to when making the cut. These are:
- Select 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
Tip: The offcuts should also be on a dry, warm day as possible
be performed. As a result, the interfaces close faster and the risk of invading germs is reduced.Topiary
Due to the good cut tolerance, sloes can easily be shaped and cut back radically. 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 blending should only take place in autumn. This is especially true if the hedge is to be cut back heavily. However, it is still possible at any time to remove or shorten individual branches in order to preserve the shape.
Tip: If the blending is only carried out every three years, but if it is stronger, the berries of the sloe thorn become particularly large.
Thinning out
Thinning is best done in autumn. This removes all branches that grow inward, cross over or form areas that are too dense.
Care and fertilization
Apart from the waste, the sloe thorn is easy to care for. For example, pouring is very rarely required.
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 photosynthesis performance.
The following fertilizers can be used for healthy growth:
- Horn meal or horn shavings
- Slow release fertilizer
- compost
Fertilization in spring and additional nutrients in late summer are ideal. In order to avoid chemical burns on the roots by the fertilizer, the fertilizer should either be applied directly before it rains or poured afterwards. This distributes the nutrients evenly in the soil and prevents damage.
