Garden Care Guide

Cotoneaster nummularius Care

Cotoneaster nummularius

A deciduous, very hardy shrub that is also native to Turkey. It likes full sun and well-drained, chalky soil; it is extremely drought tolerant and produces reddish-black fruit in autumn that birds love.

Hardy · -25 °C / -13 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Not required; winter precipitation is sufficient.
  • Pruning: Not needed. The best time for pruning is the end of the month.
  • Plant protection: If needed, apply dormant oil against overwintering scale insects.
  • General care: Berries on branches provide food for birds throughout winter.
February
  • Watering: Not needed; rainfall is sufficient.
  • Pruning: Late month, before new growth starts, is the best time for the main pruning. Remove only dry, diseased, or misshapen branches.
  • General care: Propagation by semi-hardwood cuttings can be tried.
  • Pests & diseases: Carry out a general condition check.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: At the start of the month, apply a slow-release balanced NPK (e.g., 10-10-10) fertilizer or compost (do not overapply).
  • Pruning: Pruning should be finished by the beginning of this month.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Be alert for fire blight. Immediately cut out shoots that suddenly darken and look scorched, and disinfect your pruning tools.
April
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Not needed. Flowering begins.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: After flowering ends, it can be pruned lightly to shape the plant.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins. Drainage is critical for this plant. In heavy, water-retaining soil, plant on a mound or bed raised 20-30 cm; the root collar should remain above the surrounding soil level.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
June
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Pruning: The pruning period has passed.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
July
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
  • Pruning: Prune as soon as flowering ends. Next year's flower buds form over the summer; late pruning reduces flowering. Light shaping is done after flowering. On spreading forms, limiting cuts are applied. Dead branches are always removed.
  • Plant protection: Continue checking for spider mites.
  • General care: The fruits continue to grow.
August
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
  • General care: The fruits begin to turn from green to reddish-black.
September
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month. Water newly planted specimens more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Make sure water does not pool in the root zone during winter rains; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
December
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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