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

Growing hawthorn from emergency cutting

IronSquirrelIronSquirrel Posts: 68
in Plants
Gah what an ugly picture- sorry !

so, my customer didn’t like a hawthorn growing from inside an elder tree. Don’t blame him. So he said get rid. 
He also wants a hawthorn planting later in the year, so I thought I could do with the experience, and cut it off for saving at home.

All the info I’ve found assumes that the reader has either bought whips or has made a dainty cutting on a tough, well established hawthorn. 

This, as you can see, I cut from just above a kink in the base, about 1 inch above the soil. I didn’t know what angle to cut it at , so I’ll redo it at home with some advice,
and also where do I plant it for now , do I keep it in water over night or something?

Actually I have a planter ,  some 18 inch deep with rich composty soil 

Thanks !
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin”
Trolius & Cressida

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I don't understand. Are you trying to get woody cuttings from that branch? From what I know, Hawthorns are not easy when they are woody. You could try semi-ripe cuttings, but it will take some time. I have never tried before so hopefully someone who has tried it may offer you their experience.

    Woody cuttings are usually done later on in the year and Hawthorns may not root in ordinary soil. The branches under the soil is likely to rot than form roots. They might work on very gritty sandy medium. But it is a lengthy process. You are better off trying to dig out as much of that seedling and replant somewhere else, it may settle faster than cuttings.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    You've already cut it off? There's very little chance of rooting it, and it's not worth going to much effort to try and do so since whips only cost a couple of quid, but you could try this - cut the stem just below the first little branch, then remove all side branches back to the stem except maybe two or three at the top, then cut those side branches back to the first leaf. Put in soil in a cool shady spot where it won't dry out, water in, see what happens.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    If you get/got some root with it, there's a chance, but as @Borderline said, they don't take well from hardwood cuttings.  My success rate was poor when I heeled-in a row of about 30 one autumn many years ago - only 2 or 3 rooted.  Easier from seed, but takes a long time.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Your best chance is to try and dig up the bit you left with a little root on it.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Are you sure the large tree is an elder? 
    It might be an alder, but doesn’t look anything like an elder to me. 
    😊 

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





Sign In or Register to comment.