The cornelian cherry, also known as the yellow dogwood, is a summer green hedge plant that attracts pollinating insects to the garden with its flowers. If you plant several bushes close together, you will have enough privacy for the terrace during the gardening season and you will also be doing something for the environment. We explain how you can create a cornelian cherry hedge.
The cornelian cherry (also known as Dürlitze) is a beautiful ornamental tree for the home garden. The flowering period begins in March, when the first flowers rich in pollen and nectar appear and provide food forpollinating insects such as bees, bumblebees and butterflies. The large, multi-stemmed shrub bears edible red fruits that provide food for birds and small garden animals. The fruits are also edible for humans. The wild tree has summer-green foliage that turns reddish-brown in autumn.
The cornelian cherry is a heart rooter, which means it forms both deep and shallow roots. It is very adaptable and can cope with both a full sun and a shady location. This also applies to the condition of the soilQuite undemanding for bird food. It prefers calcareous, nutrient-rich garden soil, so you can also water it with tap water. The native plant is perfect for group plantings and hedges, for example as a privacy screen in the front garden.
Planting the wild hedge with Dürlitze: You should take this into account
The location:Before you create the cornelian cherry hedge, you should find the right location. A spot in the sun to light shade proves to be perfect. It is not necessary to have the garden soil tested in a laboratory. However, you can ensure good drainage by adding sand to the garden soil. The shrub does not tolerate waterlogging. The Dürlitze can easily tolerate rain, snow and wind.
The right time to plant:The perfect planting time for the cornelian cherry is spring. The young plants are a maximum of 1.5 meters high and still have compact root balls, which of course makes planting much easier.
The distance between plants:The special thing about the Dürlitze is its sprawling growth. The shrub forms more main shoots and looks likea small treeout of. It grows to a maximum height of 5 meters and grows by 20 to 30 cm per year. When planting, you should therefore place the bushes in the ground at a distance of 1.5 meters.
Care before and after planting:The large shrub does not need regular fertilization. It is sufficient if you enrich the soil with compost at the start of the season or immediately after planting. Water the fruit tree as needed - it prefers fresh to moderately moist soil.
Create a bird protection hedge with yellow dogwood
From April, when the night frosts have passed, you can create a hedge with cornelian cherries. You should take into account that the cornelian cherry grows very slowly in the first few years and needs time to develop its root system. The right planting partners are therefore crucial. It gets along best with slow-growing, shallow-rooted plants with similar location and soil requirements.
Cutting the cornelian cherry hedge: Is a topiary necessary?
The young plantsrequire caring pruning, which can be done one to two weeks after planting. Simply shorten the shoots by a third. Since heavy pruning is prohibited from March, you should only thin out the cornelian cherry a little and give it the desired shape. First, check the shoots for nesting birds. In the next few years, the cornelian cherry will cope without pruning. It can tolerate a topiary, but this is not necessary. Cutting has no influence on flower formation and portability.
Plant a mixed hedge with cornelian cherries
Suitable planting partners for the mixed hedge include the following trees and perennials:
- Common honeysuckle
- Rotblatt Rose
- Bladderbush
- Pfaffenhut
- Schwarzdorn
- Rock pear
- Woolly and Common Snowball
- Faulbaum
- Hedge barberry
- Cherry laurel
- Cotoneaster
- Dog rose
- Black elderberry
- Blackberries
- Eberschen
Proper care in the first few years is crucial. You should water the plants regularly, especially if drought persists. Never let the floor dry out. If necessary, you can lime it additionally.
Process the fruits
The wild fruits of the cornelian cherry are edible for humans and animals. You can also eat these raw or use them to make jam. You can also prepare various smoothies or other drinks (such as liqueurs or cocktails) with cornelian cherries. You can also bake cakes with cornelian cherries or make chutney yourself with the fruit.
