Hawthorn Questions

[Bunjeh]

I collected several Hawthorns (crataegus monogyna and douglasii) over the winter months and all have regained vigor, to say the least. Should I just let them grow for now, or do I need to start some selective pruning/wiring. Seem to be having trouble uploading pics today. But I will try.

 

[jk_lewis]

I think reasonable pruning would be fine at any time. Wiring is best done on these in the late fall when the leaves are gone and you can see to avoid (or clip) the thorns.

 

[Bunjeh]

Hawthorns

• Bunjeh
• May 16, 2015
• 3

Haw1

• Bunjeh
• May 16, 2015

Here they are. The one pictured by itself is 24" and the trunk is the same size as a beer can.

 

[M. Frary]

If a tree is kicking ass I would eliminate some branches I don't need and put some wire on the ones I leave. These are hard so once the branch gets a certain thickness it is hard to bend.
You can work most decidious trees the first year if they recover well. Not too much but a little here and there. More leaves means more roots. You want to get the roots nice and healthy the first year. Digging up a tree is one of the harshest things you can do to a tree.Roots have been cut off,most if not all foliage has been cut off. Major trauma to say the least. Kind of like having your legs and arms cut off and having to regrow them.

 

[M. Frary]

Hawthorns

• Bunjeh
• May 16, 2015
• 3

Haw1

• Bunjeh
• May 16, 2015

Here they are. The one pictured by itself is 24" and the trunk is the same size as a beer can.

I like the one on the far left. Really like the little brute. You collected those all this year? Nice little bunch of trees. They look like they are doing real well too. Nice!

 

[Bunjeh]

The one on the left is the one from my thread “yamadori or rescue”. The attached photo is the single tree above after collection. It was run over by a Stryker so I threw it in my truck after an exercise.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wire branches while they're still flexible, and get good movement in close to the trunk. You can shorten them later, but what you'll ultimately keep should have good movement. I'd also be careful to avoid letting the wires cut in. Mine still has visible wire scars from initial wiring done 15 years ago.

 

[Bunjeh]

Wire branches while they're still flexible, and get good movement in close to the trunk. You can shorten them later, but what you'll ultimately keep should have good movement. I'd also be careful to avoid letting the wires cut in. Mine still has visible wire scars from initial wiring done 15 years ago.

Brian: Thanks,..took your advice. Some very selective pruning (only branches were two where coming from the same node) and wiring close in to give movement. This opened up the trunks to more sunlight as well. Last question, should I avoid pruning for a couple of years the branches I want to make it into the final structure in order to thicken them?