Demands on the location
The firethorn needs a nutrient-rich, water-permeable and humus-rich soil and sunny to partially shaded locations. The pH of the soil should be slightly acidic to alkaline. In contrast to other garden plants, the firethorn also thrives in cool and open places.
also read
- The correct pruning of the firethorn
- The multiplication of the firethorn
- The growth of the firethorn
Care and fertilization
The firethorn is an undemanding wood that requires little maintenance. The thorn bush rewards fertilization in spring with numerous flowers and rich fruit set. Organic fertilizers containing nitrogen or compost are well suited.
The drought-resistant plant manages without additional watering even in dry summers. You should only occasionally wash the firethorn during long periods of heat.
Cut
Shorten the firethorn at least once a year so that it does not grow bulky and forms long, lateral shoots without branches.
- The best time to cut back heavily is February.
- With a sharp and clean Rose scissors Shorten all branches without branches.
- A second cut is made after flowering in July.
- Make sure to watch out for breeding birds!
- Do not remove all flowers, otherwise hardly any fruit will be formed.
- Do not prune back in autumn to avoid frost damage.
You can use firethorn hedges with a Hedge trimmer(€ 77.00 at Amazon *) to get in shape. Work very carefully with this design cut so that there are no holes in the hedge.
Diseases and pests
The firethorn is a robust garden wood. If it feels comfortable in its location, the firethorn is seldom from Pests or diseases infested.
However, waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. Rot quickly develops in the root area, which can cause massive damage to the plant.
Does the Firethorn need winter protection?
Only plant winter-hardy firethorn varieties in the garden, as they do not require additional winter protection. Since the wood does not shed its leaves in winter, it is somewhat sensitive to sunny winter days and subsequent frosty nights. In order to avoid drought damage, it makes sense to shade the plants in order to minimize the evaporation of water through the leaves.
Specimens that are not frost-resistant should only be planted in pots and overwintered in a frost-free room.
Tips & Tricks
The firethorn has very hard and strong thorns that can lead to painful skin injuries. You should therefore refrain from planting firethorn bushes near children's playgrounds.
