[greenhead]

Hi All,

Just taken delivery of some blackthorn plants for a hedge at the bottom of my allotment (hope it will be vandal proof) Any special planting hints, ground preparation?

Having to do this because the local council will not improve the fencing around the site!! but the berries could be useful!

Thank you for any tips.

Mike.

[Lardman]

I did similar here a few years ago. I cleared the ground with a strimmer, made a trench with the mattock about 12" deep ( 2 mattock blades) and stuffed the plants in around 1ft spacing, back filled, watered well.  I did cut them down to 18" but other than that they have had no attention. Even in my nasty sandpit they're fine although yet to produce anything more than a handful of sloes.

[adri123]

Keep on top of it!  Blackthorn is horrible to deal with if it gets out of hand.  I cut a load down about 5 years ago from about 6 ft high.  The area is now back with Blackthorn at about the same height.

Not looking forward to doing it again....ouch!

[greenhead]

Thank you Lardman and adri123,

Just what I want to keep the vandals out!!!

Mike.

[Goosegirl]

It's a tough plant and even withstands our salt-laden gales here in Thurnham! Assuming it is like hawthorn to plant, do as Lardman says as it's what the farmers do around here. 

[Thrutchington]

I mulch my 2 year old blackthorn hawthorn mix with manure twice a year to keep the soil rich and suppress weeds. Makes a great screen and is 100% natural, attracts ladybirds and hopefully birds soon.