North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Matt Demmon <mdemmon@gmail.com>]

I'm not an expert on Hawthorn species, can't tell most of them apart,
but C. crus-galli is especially nasty in the thorn department. Up to 4
inches long. So much so, that I would almost recommend other species,
which will get the job done without quite as much risk to you. All the
species I've seen have a very thick branching pattern, and I think it
is mostly that fact, and the very stiff branches, that would keep deer
out, although the thorns help. Not sure what to do to promote lower
branching, probably pruning the top a bit to let more light through
would help. You could bend down lower branches when young so they
filled up the spaces.

I've seen old fields where a lot of hawthorns had come in, about 7 to
15 feet between plants on average, and they sure do form an unpleasant
barrier to humans, and I think deer as well. As far as species, I
would either start with seed from local trees that fit your bill for
growth habit, or graft on from good trees. It seems like some of the
cultivated, i.e. nursery available species I've seen have not been
quite as thick growing as some of the wild species I've seen.

Good luck!

matt
z5 SE MI

On Thu, Dec 23, 2010 at 1:46 PM, Steven Covacci <filtertitle@aol.com> wrote:
> In Europe, hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) has been utilized as a traditional and
> effective barrier hedge.  I'd like to form a hedge around a property to
> restrict the entry of deer.
> Instead of pleaching as is often done (i.e. Europe), I'd like to do the
> following:
> Most native hawthorn species will grow at least 20' wide, at maximum
> maturity and are not (?) slow-growing.  For a less formal look (which
> requires a greater number of individual plants and may not be so healthy for
> the plant with regards to air-circulation), I'd like to space them apart in
> a row around the property at about 10' or 15' apart.
> My expectation would be that they will, in time (no rush, as long as less
> then 10 years), spread-out to mutually lock in; however, I think most
> Hathorns, unlike Yews, will have a little clearance (maybe to 3' off the
> ground) so I'm concerned that deer will use this 3' to crouch under and
> enter.
> 1. Is there a way to get the hawthorn to put-out branches lower, even to the
> near ground?
> 2. Is there a species of hawthorn that puts out very low branches?
> 3. Any recommendations from the native northeastern species series: i.e. C.
> mollis; C. crus-galli; C. phaenophyrum; etc.?
> Thank you,
> Steve Covacci
> New Jersey; USDA zone 6b/7a
>
>
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