The Common Hawthorn is a native species that looks very similar to the Crataegus cuneata native to Japan. One difference lies in the color of the flowers, because the Central European wild species flowers white, while the Japanese hawthorn glows red.
Hawthorn is a beautiful, low-maintenance bonsai
properties
Crataegus monogyna is a widespread and popular species in the bonsai scene because this species is characterized by strong growth and high vitality. The basic structure is quickly reached. Heckdorn quickly forms a strong base and strong branches, whereby the leaves are naturally rather small.
Beware of fungal diseases
The species is susceptible to infestation by hawthorn rust. This leads to the formation of deformed branches. In addition, the powdery mildew causes a mealy coating on the leaves, which develop brown spots and wither. In such cases, you need to cut off the affected parts of the plant liberally and treat the entire tree with fungicides. Even if an infestation is over, a relapse can occur every year.
design options
The wood allows numerous design styles, with strictly upright types or the broom shape being rather uncommon. The shrub allows for a lot of upright configurations, semi-cascades, rock formations or landscapes.
promote flowering
Promoting a beautiful bloom is not easy with hawthorn, because the tree puts more of its energy into the growth and development of long shoots. The flowers develop on the short shoots and dry out quickly if the care is suboptimal. This is how the bud volume dwindles over the years. You can remedy this by pinching after the flowering period. Prune the shoots of the strong branches so that the growth potential is distributed to the weaker shoots. Pay attention to an alternate branch arrangement.
cutting techniques
In winter, the tree is in the dormant phase, so pruning is recommended. In order for the cuts to heal faster, you should grab the scissors shortly before the shoots sprout in March. Larger injuries take several years to fully heal. The design of tiers is not a problem, because hawthorn develops plenty of shoots directly on the trunk after intensive pruning.
How to proceed:
- Shorten long shoots from a length of 15 centimeters to two to three leaves
- in old specimens reduce the 10 centimeters long new shoots
- Remove wilted flowers and trim branches back to 1-2 nodes
- Remove disturbing and superfluous shoots on the main stem after they emerge
tips
Determining the direction of growth requires some practice, because the remaining buds do not always sprout reliably after a cut.
wire
The growth of fast-growing branches can be slowed down with wires. Start this method after budding between May and June. Check the branches regularly and renew the wraps if necessary. Take off the aluminum wire completely next spring.