With its large and strong thorns, the evergreen firethorn forms almost impenetrable hedges that are well suited as natural property boundaries. In spring, the wood is adorned with delicately scented umbels of flowers. Inside the hedge, birds find a sheltered place to raise their young. At the same time, the bright orange-red fruits of the firethorn serve as valuable food for our feathered friends during the winter months.
The planting
Firethorn thrives in well drained topsoil and prefers full sun. Put a drainage layer of gravel in the planting holes, as the wood reacts to too much water with root rot. The optimal planting distance is thirty centimeters for cut hedges. If you are planning a hedge with natural growth, the distance may be one meter or more.
watering and fertilizing
The firethorn hedge requires little maintenance. Since the firethorn is a deep-rooting plant, it only needs occasional watering during longer periods of drought. In this case, water the plant penetratingly. A fertilizer application with nitrogenous fertilizers in the spring rewards the firethorn with a rich blossom and fruit set. Fully mature compost or organic fertilizer is well suited.
Cut the firethorn
Firethorn tolerates pruning well. Without pruning, the wood usually grows somewhat sparsely and reaches heights of up to six meters. Without regular pruning, the firethorn tends to grow top-heavy and gradually collapse in on itself.
This is how the hedge trimming succeeds
Therefore, shorten the long shoots without branching with a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears. Since this stimulates new growth, the young plants grow into a dense and even hedge more quickly. Give the firethorn hedge a slightly rounded contour so that more light can penetrate inside. Alternatively, you can shape slightly larger hedges with the electric hedge trimmer (€77.00).
cutting time
Early spring in early March is the right time for heavy pruning. In June or July, when the pretty umbels of flowers have faded and the bush is just starting to bear fruit, you can make small corrective cuts. Do not cut off all the flowers so that there are enough food reserves for birds.
Always cut the hedge on cloudy days or in the evening hours. Hedges cut in the blazing midday sun suffer sunburn on the young leaves, which weakens the trees and shrubs. From September you should stop cutting back so that the wood can mature well before the first frosts.
strain choice
Unfortunately, some firethorn varieties are susceptible to fire blight and scab. In addition, not all Firethorn species are completely hardy. When choosing, make sure you choose resistant varieties that are not affected by longer periods of frost.
tips and tricks
The firethorn with its dense spines is used by many rare bird species as a shelter from enemies such as cats or martens. When cutting, be considerate of nesting birds and, if possible, do not disturb the animals.