- The mountain ash and its importance for bird life
- The rowanberry as a garden plant
- Cut back the mountain ash - this is how it works
The mountain ash, botanically also known as Sorbus aucuparia, and popularly known as the rowan berry, is one of the most popular ornamental plants in German parks and gardens. The name "mountain ash" is derived from the fact that the mountain ash has pinnate leaves that are confusingly similar to those of the ash and the mountain ash also otherwise bears a certain resemblance to the ash.
The mountain ash and its importance for bird life
The mountain ash serves as a forage plant for many bird species in particular. This property also gave the mountain ash the popular name "rowanberry" or "rowanberry tree". The bright red fruits not only attract numerous birds, but are also a main reason for the popularity of the tree in numerous park landscapes in Germany.
The rowanberry as a garden plant
Due to its only moderate foliage, the mountain ash is a popular ornamental tree in the German garden landscape. The property of growing quickly at first and then only growing moderately later makes rowan berries a popular plant object in German gardens. But what care does the mountain ash require and, above all, how is it pruned back in the garden?
Cut back the mountain ash - this is how it works
Even if the mountain ash is a frugal plant in terms of growth conditions, with the exception of its sensitivity to heat, and pruning is only rarely necessary, pruning is always recommended if the tree is to be limited in growth or if it is infested with pests.
The best time to cut back is just after flowering, between May and June. When pruning, it is important to ensure that the branches and twigs are removed directly from the trunk.
Due to the high ornamental value of the berries, it should also be noted that when inflorescences are removed, no berries will grow at this point and the tree will therefore have numerous "bare spots". It is also important that the cutting tools (knives, scissors) must be meticulously cleaned and, if possible, pre-treated with a surface disinfectant.
By germ-free work at the interfaces, possible infections of the plant with pests or microbial germs or fungi can be avoided. If the rowan berries are already infested with germs, the cutting tool must also be cleaned and disinfected after use to avoid spreading germs.
Incidentally, recent research has shown that post-treatment of the cut surfaces by coating the cut surface with special sealants is not only unnecessary, but can actually do more harm than good to the tree. If you follow the instructions for pruning the mountain ash, you will enjoy the sight of the red berries for a long time and will also provide a source of food for numerous birds in the garden.