Whether you’re growing English Hawthorn (Rotdorn) as a standout specimen tree or a dense privacy hedge, a little TLC with the shears goes a long way. An annual trim is the secret sauce for keeping its shape tidy and ensuring a massive explosion of flowers. However, when it comes to Hawthorns, timing is everything!
The Best Time to Prune
Whether it’s a standalone tree or a Hawthorn hedge, this plant is pretty low-maintenance and handles pruning like a champ. Cutting it back once a year prevents it from getting too leggy or wild, rejuvenates the plant, and sets the stage for next year’s blooms. Here’s the kicker: Hawthorns actually start developing their future flower buds on two-year-old wood shortly after they finish blooming. Because of that, you’ll want to prune right after the flowering season ends (usually around July), ideally before those new buds start to form. Of course, if you see a stray branch growing completely sideways or ruining the silhouette, you can snip those off any time of year.
If you miss that summer window for a shape-up, flower lovers should probably hold off until the following year. But, if you’re more concerned about privacy than petals—like with a thick hedge—you can prune later in the season. Just be aware that you’ll likely have very few (or zero) flowers the following spring.
Need to do a “hard prune”? Hawthorns can handle a radical cutback every few years. Even if you cut into the old wood, the tree usually bounces back with vigorous new growth, though it’ll take a year off from flowering to recover.
If you have plenty of space in your garden, you can actually let the Hawthorn do its own thing without regular pruning. In a sunny spot, it’ll bloom beautifully while developing a rugged, gnarly, and natural look. If you’re a fan of that wild aesthetic, feel free to put the shears away!
How to Prune the Crown
If you’re looking to shape the crown of your Hawthorn, aim for that sweet spot between late June and mid-July. Any later and you’re cutting off next year’s floral display. Here’s how to get that perfect look:
- First, peek inside the crown for bird nests. If you find some feathered neighbors, wait until they’ve moved out before pruning that section.
- Remove any branches that are sticking out awkwardly, growing inward/sideways, or sagging heavily.
- Use sharp, sanitized shears. Make your cuts just above a pair of leaves or a side shoot that is pointing outward.
- You can also deadhead wilted flowers to keep things looking tidy and prevent the tree from self-seeding all over your yard.
