|
|
|
This Hawthorn was
collected in 1990 from the side of a disused railway line . It was
planted in a deep tub because most of the root I was able to get
out with it was about 4 inches higher up the trunk than the soil level
I eventually wanted (as shown in the picture to the right)
There were only a few small fine hair roots lower down, over the next 8
years I slowly pruned out the roots at the top gradually lowering the
soil level to expose the nice wide base shown in the picture above. The
lower roots were allowed to grow freely and only pruned lightly as
re-quired
The tree is planted in pure Acadama and fed with Chempak
No.8 at quarter strength several times a week . For years I had to
spray with a fungicide to keep the leaves in good condition and some
years even leaf prune to keep a healthy set .The tree now looks healthy
and in the spring of 2003 produced its first 3 clusters of flowers.
Last
spring it produced 26 clusters mostly on the lower branches, I look
forward to the day its covered with flowers.
I cut the fruit off so that all its energy goes into producing better
ramification and hopefully more flowers .
The picture to the right shows the tree 1
year after collection .
|
|
|
|