Common Buckthorn Care
Rhamnus catharticus
A drought-tolerant, very persistent shrub that tolerates sunny or partially shaded areas and all soil types. Its fruits and bark have traditionally been used as a dye and as a laxative; its spreading nature must be kept under control.
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.
- Pruning: Hard pruning can be done to shape it, control its size, or rejuvenate it.
- General care: This is a good time to pull up young seedlings that have spread into unwanted areas.
- Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown.
- Plant protection: Before the buds wake up, a copper-based preparation can be applied as a precaution.
- General care: Propagation by cuttings can be done.
- Frost risk: Protect newly planted seedlings from severe frosts.
- Watering: Only for newly planted seedlings, 10-15 L/week if it stays dry; reduce if there is rain.
- Fertilizing: Not required, it grows well even in poor soils.
- Plant protection: If aphids are seen on young leaves, monitor them; usually no intervention is needed.
- General care: Remove unwanted weeds around the base of young plants.
- Pests & diseases: Carry out a general health check.
- Watering: For new seedlings, 15-20 L/week; not needed for mature plants; reduce if there is rain.
- Pruning: Light shape corrections can be made after flowering.
- General care: It grows fast; keep its spread under control.
- Pests & diseases: Signs of rust (orange spots) may be seen on the leaves; it is generally harmless.
- Watering: For new seedlings, 15-20 L/week; not needed for mature plants.
- Pruning: If rejuvenation pruning will not be done, do not prune.
- General care: Remove root suckers and unwanted new seedlings.
- Pests & diseases: Observe the general health condition.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- General care: It is very tolerant of drought and heat and needs no care.
- 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 the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- General care: The fruits begin to develop.
- 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 the area around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- General care: Its black fruits ripen. Birds eat these fruits and spread the seeds over a wide area; if you do not want it to spread, collect the fruits or remove the plant.
- Pests & diseases: Monitor the ripening of the fruits.
- General care: Check for and remove new seedlings from fallen fruit and seeds dispersed by birds.
- Pruning: Pruning can begin toward the end of the month, once the plant enters dormancy.
- General care: Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under leaves.
- Frost risk: Protect the roots of newly planted seedlings with mulch.
- Pruning: Pruning can be done for size control, thinning and shaping.
- General care: Remove shoots (branches) coming from the root.
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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