The bright crimson umbel flowers make the hawthorn a particularly attractive hawthorn variant. It is all the more deplorable when the hedge does not want to bloom properly. What can be the reason and what you can do? Continue reading!
The flower is the most beautiful thing about the hawthorn
An abundance of flowers can be expected
Actually, the real hawthorn, Latin Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet', is a real blooming fellow. And actually it doesn't need a lot of care for the rich, crimson splendor. As long as the hawthorn has a reasonably species-appropriate location and is healthy, it should not withhold its early summer colors from you.
Possible bloom-inhibiting factors
Nevertheless, it happens from time to time that a hawthorn only blooms very sparsely or not at all.
Possible reasons can be:
- Too little sun
- Too nutrient-poor soil
- Cut back too late
Too shady location?
In general, the hawthorn thrives best in full sun. Too little light can have a significant effect not only on the growth itself, but above all on the formation of flowers. Did the thorny shrub end up in too shady a location from the start? Or maybe the surrounding trees have outgrown him? If necessary, shorten neighboring trees that have become too tall. Transplanting the deep-rooted hawthorn is not recommended.
Too nutrient-poor soil?
Like the hawthorn, the hawthorn needs nutrient-rich and moist soil. If it is not saturated enough via the roots, it can of course also use less energy to develop flowers. Provide it with good, mature compost every year and keep the soil evenly moist.
Cut off the beginnings of the flowers?
The hawthorn tends to have a sprawling, bulky growth when left. In the garden, however, there is usually not enough space or aesthetic tolerance. Especially when it is cultivated as a hedge plant or as a solitary ornamental tree with certain shape requirements, the hedge trimmer (€77.00) must be used regularly. This is also possible in itself, because the hawthorn is very tolerant of pruning.
The problem: It must not be pruned too late - otherwise you may unintentionally remove the blossoms that form early on the two-year-old wood for the coming year. Cut your hawthorn into shape as soon as possible after the flowers have faded, i.e. in early summer. This gives you the silhouette you want without affecting the flowering of next year. The rejuvenating, revitalizing effect of pruning can even have a positive effect on it.