What is an alternative to cotoneaster horizontalis?
Use wildlife friendly plants as an alternative to cotoneaster. Blackthorn, holly and wild privet are all great replacements offering shelter, food and nesting sites for wild creatures. While Cotoneaster can grow on fairly barren areas like limestone slopes in coastal regions, their roots can establish deep into the ground which can be difficult to remove without excavation.Cotoneasters are usually relatively tolerant of hard pruning, though flowering and berries may be reduced after a hard cutback.Many species grow into dense thickets, and the cotoneaster root system is woody, deep and tough. Often it becomes necessary to call upon professionals to remove larger areas of established cotoneaster and cotoneaster roots.The simplest way to train a cotoneaster is to hammer in rust-proof nails where needed to support stems, then use extension growth to develop the coverage upwards.What’s the problem? Cotoneasters are non-native species which can quickly out compete native plants. Berries are fed upon by birds dispersing seeds over large areas. Forms an extensive root system which is difficult to remove.
What is Cotoneaster horizontalis used for?
Cotoneaster horizontalis is a super plant to use where a hedge is required to cover a wall or fence and will grow upwards to a height of about 1. Cotoneaster is an excellent multi-season plant, offering spring flowers, fall berries, and year-round structure. Lifespan: 20+ years with proper care.About the Cotoneaster Makes an ideal hedge, is attractive in a rock garden or spilling over a rock wall, easily adaptable ground or sloping bank cover to reduce erosion, and their berries support songbirds.Cotoneaster mostly spreads via seed expulsion, but more so by birds following digestion of the berries, which means the plant can spread a great distance. The shrubs are hardy and can live up to 50 years if not controlled.
How do you care for cotoneaster horizontalis?
How to care for Cotoneaster horizontalis: Plant in well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. Cotoneaster tolerates poor or dry soils once established but benefits from improved soil with added organic matter at planting time. Space well to allow for its spreading habit and air circulation around the base. Cotoneaster horizontalis is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive species. This does not mean you cannot grow it in your garden but we encourage gardeners to think carefully about its potential impact on wildlife and to consider alternatives.
What is the problem with Cotoneaster horizontalis?
The most common problem with cotoneasters is mites. These pests suck plant juices causing the leaves to look speckled and in severe cases brown and fall off. These are a common problem during hot dry summers. Spray the plants with a strong blast of water to help control the mites. Cotoneasters are hardy, fast growing plants that keep most of their leaves through winter. Branches often grow in a complex, interwoven pattern. Flowers emerge from late spring through summer and are attractive to bees.Cotoneasters thrive in moist but well drained soil, in full sun to partial shade. The best time to plant a cotoneaster is in autumn, when the soil is still warm from summer but moist enough for the roots to establish before winter sets in.Generally, cotoneasters are considered to be moderate to fast growers. The rate at which they grow can be influenced by several factors including soil quality, water availability, and exposure to sunlight.
How quickly does cotoneaster grow?
Cotoneaster dammeri, known for its ground-covering ability, can spread rapidly under optimal conditions, with some varieties capable of spreading several feet in a single growing season. Spreading Cotoneaster is an upright, rounded, densely branched, deciduous shrub reaching 5-6 feet tall by 6-8 feet wide that is named for its spreading habit.
Where is the best place to plant cotoneaster?
Likes. They flower and fruit best in full-sun, but will tolerate part shade. Plants will also grow in drier soils, once established. They flower and fruit best in full-sun, but will tolerate part shade. Plants will also grow in drier soils, once established.