Blackthorn in the garden

[Matsukaze]

Hi All,

My in-laws live just on the edge of Brown Hairstreak range near Oxford, and would also like to make some home-made sloe gin.

How suitable is Blackthorn as a hedging plant in gardens? When in hedgerows, it spreads by suckers and the extent of blackthorn grows from year to year. How is this prevented in gardens, and is it relatively easy to do?

[Susie]

It's an excellent hedging plant. It can spread by suckers so when/if this becomes a problem they will either have to be dug up or cut back (by mower or some other form). Our hedge borders a driveway so spreading isn't a problem.