--Characteristics--
More familiar to many as the Sloe, from its large fruits ripening in late autumn, Blackthorn is an important native deciduous shrub often seen growing wild in the countryside. A densely spiny suckering shrub, it makes one of the best stock-proof hedges and forms an essential part of wildlife hedges. Its snowy white blossom appears in very early spring before the leaves and is followed in late autumn by the purplish-black fruits.
Site and soil
Very tough and tolerant of most soils and situations, including wet, exposed sites.
Height and spread
Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;
After 10 years: 5m x 1.5m
After 20 years: 5m x 1.5m
Leaf and bark
Oval leaves appear after the blossom in late March. The bark is very smooth and black.
Flower, seed and fruit
The small white 5-petalled flowers appear in great profusion in early March, smothering the whole plant. They are followed by small, hard plum-like fruits, which ripen to purplish-black in late autumn. The flesh is green and very bitter, and surrounds the seed.
Uses
Stock and people-proof hedges, mixed wildlife hedges, woodland, cover for game birds. Blackthorn’s suckering habit ensures that there are never gaps at the base of the hedge. The fruits are used to make sloe gin, and the branches to make walking-sticks, or shillelaghs.
Wildlife
The pollen is a good food source for early insects, and the larvae of a variety of moths and butterflies, including the Emperor Moth, feed on the leaves. The fruits are eaten by birds over winter.
--Plant Protection--
--Planting & Care--
Planting
More commonly used as part of a mixed species within a native hawthorn hedge.
New hedgerows should be planted in two staggered rows 30cm apart.
We recommend a minimum of 5 plants per metre.
Aftercare
Blackthorn hedges should be pruned in June-July.
The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:
- Pests
- Spraying
- Strimming
Pests
When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Vole, Mice 20cm |
Rabbit 60cm |
Hare 75cm |
Roe Deer, Muntjac 1.20m |
Fallow Deer 1.50m |
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
Vole, Mice 20cm |
Vole Guard 20cm |
None required |
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Rabbit 60cm |
Spiral Guard 60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
| Tubex Easywrap 60cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Mesh Guard with Spray Shield 60cm x 130mm |
2 x Bamboo Canes 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 60cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 60cm x 57-73cm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 60cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Hare 75cm |
Tubex Easywrap 75cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
| Spiral Guard 75cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 75cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 75cm x 57-73mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Combitube 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Roe Deer/Muntjac 1.20m |
Tubex Tree Shelter* 1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube* 1.20m x 73-105mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube* 1.20m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube* 1.20m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard* 1.20m x 300mm *Not recommended for this species |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm |
|
| Pest & Minimum Protection Height | Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants. |
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
| Fallow Deer 1.50m |
Tubex Tree Shelter* 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube* 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube* 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube* 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard* 1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm *Not recommended for this species |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.80m x 60mm |
|
Spraying
Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.
The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.
Strimming
Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.
