Rowan in March: monthly care

Rowan thrives in full sun or partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soils, including loam, sandy soil, and peat-based ground. It prefers a well-drained site but copes well with moderately moist conditions. Before planting, dig a hole at least twice the width of the root ball and roughly the same depth. Break up any compacted soil at the base and sides to encourage roots to spread. If your soil is heavy clay, work in some grit or organic matter to improve drainage; on very sandy ground, add compost to help retain moisture. Plant bare-root rowans between October and November or in March, when the tree is dormant. Container-grown specimens can go in during the same months for best results, though March planting gives the roots a full growing season to establish before winter. Position the tree so the root flare (where the trunk widens at the base) sits at or just above soil level—planting too deep can lead to rot. Backfill with the excavated soil, firming gently as you go to eliminate air pockets, but avoid compacting it heavily. Space rowans at least 700 cm apart to allow for their mature spread of 400–700 cm. After planting, water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. Apply a 5–8 cm layer of well-rotted compost or bark mulch around the base, keeping it clear of the trunk itself to prevent rot. Stake young trees with a single angled stake and a flexible tie if the site is exposed, checking and loosening the tie every few months as the trunk thickens. Water regularly during the first growing season, especially in dry spells, to help the rowan establish a strong root system.

Rowan is a low-maintenance tree once established. Water young trees regularly during their first two years, particularly from late spring through summer, giving a thorough soak every week or ten days in dry weather. Established rowans have moderate water needs and usually manage on rainfall alone, though prolonged drought in summer may warrant occasional deep watering. Avoid waterlogging, as rowans dislike sitting in saturated soil. Feed in March or April by sprinkling a general-purpose granular fertiliser, such as blood, fish and bone or Growmore, in a circle around the drip line (the outer edge of the canopy). Use roughly 70–100 grams per square metre and lightly fork it into the soil surface, then water in if rain isn't forecast. Mature trees in reasonable soil rarely need feeding, but a spring application supports healthy foliage and the abundant white flowers that appear in late spring and early summer, followed by the bright orange-red berries in autumn. Rowan is fully hardy to zone 2a and needs no winter protection in temperate Europe. Refresh the mulch layer each autumn to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Watch for aphids on young shoots in spring; a strong jet of water usually dislodges them, or use an insecticidal soap if numbers are high. Fireblight, a bacterial disease, can occasionally affect rowans, causing blackened, scorched-looking shoots; prune out infected material immediately, cutting well below the damage, and disinfect tools between cuts. Silverleaf fungus is less common but recognisable by a silvery sheen on leaves; again, prune out affected branches promptly and burn or bin the prunings.