Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Help with a Hawthorn

iandhollandiandholland Posts: 1
in Problem solving

image

Hi All,

Outside the fornt of my house is a mature hawthorn archway which i am led to believe by the previous owner is at least 60 years old.

I have always cut it into shape annually in the spring however this year the tree on the left of the image has not produced any new growth at all, especially compared to the tree on the right which has a lot of vigorous new growth.

I would be really sad to looose this arch as it looks amazing when in flower and berry. Is there anything i can do to help the tree on the right?

Thanks so much for any help,

Ian (a concerned hawthorn keeper)

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    Growth follows the knife.  Doesn't look as though the tree on the right needs any help; just a trim to keep it in shape.  It's the tree on the left which needs help.  Fertilizer perhaps.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618

    The tree on the left seems to have three branches. The two thicker ones on the right of the left tree, I would cut down by half. That should induce a lot more new growth, which will be softer and you can train it into the shape you want.  Prune it now before the sap starts rising. Feed it and mulch it in Spring, with something like a general fertiliser or blood fish and bone.

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

     Some possibiities occur to me.

    Does the right hand tree shade it out?

    It has less open soil round it than the RH tree. Does it get as much water and/or food?

    It looks to have a thicker trunk than RH tree, so could be older, maybe just coming to the end.

    Check for any damage or rot

    I get a number of bird sown saplings from my hawthorns and they grow quite fast, so maybe prepare a replacement.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    We also had a very dry spring last year ............ it might just be that the smaller area of exposed soil around the left hand tree might not have been enough to absorb enough water for it to make much growth  ... image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    when you say not produced growth at all, do you mean growth or leaves, as if it didn't produce leaves last year its not looking good for life of the tree

Sign In or Register to comment.