The Instructions For Planting An Indian Hawthorn
Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 9. Known for its evergreen, glossy leaves, these dense shrubs feature white to pink flowers from late fall to late spring, adding needed color to dreary winter gardens. Plants exhibit dark blue berries in spring after flowers expire. Old plants grow up to 5 feet high and 6 feet wide in a curved or mounding form and can be planted individually or in group plantings. You might plant Indian hawthorn around house foundations or as an informal hedge.
Loosen the soil with a scoop and garden hoe. Work in organic soil amendments, such as compost, sphagnum peat, sand, manure and leaf mould, to enhance soil structure and increase drainage. Select a site in full sun to partial shade that provides enough room to accommodate the 6-foot spread of a mature Indian hawthorn.
Dig a hole that’s two to three times the diameter and the exact same thickness as the original planting container. If you do not possess a nursery-grown container plant, you can take a cutting in summertime, dip the cut end in rooting hormone and plant it in a container using well-draining potting mix. Put the pot in full sun and keep the soil evenly moist before planting in spring.
Space holes 18 inches apart in the event that you want to plant several Indian hawthorn plants in a hedgerow or two feet apart for mass planting.
Remove the plant from the original container and loosen the soil around the roots. Place the plant in the hole and push the soil loosely around the soil ball. Do not push the soil around the root, but instead plant to the exact same thickness as in the original container.
Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the plant to help insulate origins and retain moisture in the soil. Avoid pushing the mulch directly contrary to the plant stem since this contributes to plant rot and relieves infestation.
Water the plant deeply until the soil around the plant is evenly moist. Watering will eliminate air bubbles in the soil and make some settling, so you might need to add more soil around the plants. Water as needed to keep the soil evenly moist until the plant becomes established; look for indicators of growth to signal establishment.
Water the plant deeply every five to 10 days in summer when plants are well-established, supplying enough water to moisten the root zone around the plant. Regular watering stimulates even flowering and growth, but Indian hawthorn is fairly drought-tolerant and will prosper without regular watering. Implement water directly to the soil around the plant to prevent leaf spot disease and root rot.
Insert a complete fertilizer to the water source about once monthly, if desired, or apply finished compost as a side dressing into the soil around plants. While regular fertilization is discretionary, a complete fertilizer is particularly valuable to raise vigor before new growth rises in spring.