Easy care Hawthorns for smaller gardens
Trees can add a new dimension to the shape of your garden, and autumn can be a good time to pick something new.
Having a tree creates the feel of an established garden, and you don’t need a towering oak to get the look. In small gardens a hawthorn gives you a hedge option, or can be planted more centrally to look pretty all year round, but without dominating the landscape.
Why choose a Hawthorn?
This is a great little tree option because it grows quickly, and if you prune old growth you can encourage new stems. It will also give you colour – rich green leaves with white flowers in spring, and cute red haws (berries) in the autumn. You’ll need to make sure your children don’t eat the haws, though they will be much appreciated by visiting birds!
How to plant
The great thing is that this is a hardy plant you can grow in the city or country.
It suits all soil types (so long as it’s not too boggy), but avoid heavy shade and it should thrive anywhere. It can also be planted during the winter months.
If you want to keep it in trim, prune it back after it has flowered (in May/June time), and then again in the autumn. If you want a wilder look in a bigger garden you can leave it to its own devices and just tidy it up once in a while, but bear in mind that it can grow up to three metres in height.