Indian Hawthorns Are Alive & Well!

 

Is Your Indian Hawthorn Growing Back?

 

Good news! Many Indian Hawthorns that suffered severe freeze damage may begin sending up fresh growth from near the base of the plant. If you’re seeing healthy new shoots emerging, that’s a great sign that at least part of the shrub survived.

As that new growth develops, you can begin removing portions of the old shrub that are truly dead. After a severe freeze, lower branches sometimes survive because they were better insulated and protected than the upper portions of the plant.

 

 
 

Remove Dead Growth Carefully

 

Before cutting everything back, make sure the branches you’re removing are actually dead. Look for new buds or shoots, and lightly scratch a small area of bark if you’re unsure. Green tissue underneath the bark indicates that portion of the branch is still alive, while dry, brittle, brown tissue is a sign that it has died.

Once you’re confident a branch is dead, remove it with clean, sharp pruning tools. This opens up the shrub, improves its appearance, and gives the healthy new growth room to develop.

 

 

 
 

Give the New Growth Some Room

 

You may be surprised by how quickly a recovering Indian Hawthorn can begin filling back in. In the photos above, you can see healthy new growth developing inside the remains of the freeze-damaged shrub.

Leaving large amounts of dead wood in place can make the new growth harder to see and eventually leave a tangle of old branches inside the shrub. Removing confirmed dead wood allows you to better evaluate the plant’s recovery and gradually restore its natural shape.

There’s no need to rush the process, though. Freeze-damaged shrubs can take time to show exactly which portions survived, so when in doubt, give the plant a little more time before making the cut.

 
 

If you have questions about your plants, contact us via email or text. We’re happy to help!