Crataegus

I had the very bad surprise to discover a colony of mealy bugs hidden underneath the bark. The small insects found a nice spot to overwinter. I start by removing them before wiring the tree. ...

This massive Hawthorn was collected 5 years ago and after two root works the nebari is taking shape. ...

Repotting after two years and light wiring of this small Hawthorn. ...

An Hawthorn shohin. ...

This small Hawthorn illuminates my autumns with its scarlet red leaves. ...

In fall the leaves are scorched by the sun, eaten by the insects and thorn by the wind. Their days are counted. Slowly the green pigments are overthrown by the red (anthocyans), orange (carotenoids) and yellow (xanthophyll) pigments. The tree is pumping its sugars and nutrients from the leaves using the osmosis mechanism. The anthocyans bring frost protection and enlighten our nordic species. In the coming days the tree will store the sugars in the soil and the starches in the living wood. Cellular death will reach the heart of the leaves and the stalk will soon be completely obstructed by a cork tissue. From this point the leaves will fall, leaving a separation mark on the branch. The leaves are sacrified for the promess of a new season. ...

This small shohin hawthorn is lacking a few branches along the trunk. A branch was let to grow long enough to be grafted. This graft will have three purposes: fill a void, create a back branch and heal wounds on the trunk. Wounds that have to heal on the trunk: A channel is grooved to receive the graft: We check the fit and adjust as needed: Two holes are drilled into the trunk and the graft is held in place with a staple made of 2 mm aluminum wire....

This hawthorn was repotted and defoliated last year. It is ramifying but still remains early in its development. Only a few branches are cut and repositioned using wire. The hook technique A wire can be anchored using a hook instead of wiring to anoher branch. 3 branches junction A branch is removed to eliminate a three-branch junction. Result Close-up of the first plateau: Top-view of the first plateau: Close-up of the second plateau:...