How fast do beech hedges grow?
An established Beech hedge has an average growth rate of around 30-60cm per year but reaches a maximum of 5m plus once mature. This is an average-fast rate of growth compared to other plants.
Should beech hedgerows be trimmed?
Having a tidy property is one reason for trimming beech hedgerows. Left untrimmed, beech hedge plants would return to their natural state as scraggly bushes or trees. There are other reasons for homeowners to learn how to prune beech hedge. Regularly pruning and trimming beech hedges encourages more branches and leaves to grow.
What does a beech tree look like?
Allowed to grow to its full potential, beech forms a large majestic tree for spacious gardens. It also makes a fine hedge with bright green leaves that turn burnt orange in autumn.
Can you plant a copper beech hedge?
The copper beech, for example, has purple leaves which turn copper after summer. If you are looking to plant a hedge that remains green all year around, consider a yew or laurel hedge instead. We have written an article on how to plant laurel hedging. What conditions are best for growing beech hedging?
How can I make my beech hedge grow faster?
Beech aren't heavy feeders. But if you wish to speed up growth, perhaps so a hedge provides screening more quickly for example, apply a general-purpose fertiliser such as Growmore or blood, fish and bone no earlier than the second spring after planting.
How long does it take for a beech hedge to establish?
You can expect your beech hedge to grow at an average rate of 30cm to 60cm per year. Don't worry if your hedge seems sluggish in the first year. This is normal as it will be spending energy establishing its roots. After the first year, you should find that the rate of growth will increase.
Does Beech make a good hedge?
Common beech (Fagus sylvatica) is one of the most majestic of European native trees, yet also makes an excellent formal hedge as it tolerates regular clipping.
Can you cut a beech hedge right back?
Fagus sylvatica - Restoring old beech hedging In particular a beech hedge can get wider. However it can be brought back into shape quite simply. First, before cutting, it is a good idea to mulch your beech hedge well in the spring. Then, the following winter, you can really go to town.
How do I make my beech hedge thicker?
This may seem a little counterproductive but pruning at the end of August will help the beech hold on to its leaves throughout the winter months. Pruning the top of your beech will also help to promote thickening. Beech Hedges can get to around 5m tall and it takes a lot of energy to sustain that size plant.
How long does it take to grow a 6ft hedge?
Hedges might take three to seven years to attain their desired size. You can buy semi-mature hedges which, although costly, will give an instant hedge.
How often do you cut a beech hedge?
Beech and hornbeam put on two flushes of growth in the year – one main flush in spring and a second, smaller spurt in late summer. Ideally they should be cut back after each flush to keep them tidy.
How long do beech hedges live?
A Beech hedge can last hundreds of years so it is important that you prepare the site thoroughly before planting. The single most important thing is that there is no competition for food or water from other flora (weeds, including grass). Young beech saplings of 40-60 or 60-80 cms tall can be slit planted (see below).
When should I plant a beech hedge?
We are often asked this question – from a horticultural point of view the very best time to plant almost all Beech hedge plants (especially bare roots and rootballs) is in late Autumn or early Winter.
When should you not cut a beech hedge?
To keep them from looking scrappy you should do one major cut back a year at the end of summer and a minor trim to keep them near and tidy in February. It is important not to cut your hedges too early - wait until the late summer. This will allow your beech to keep its recent flush of new leaves over the winter.
What month do beech hedges turn green?
Beech is also a green leaved tree with oval shaped leaves. It comes into leaf quickly in the first week of May and turns orange-brown in November.
Why is my beech hedge turning brown?
Frost Damage Frost damages the new, tender growth of Beech foliage. Affected leaves become brown and shrivel quickly. The plant produces new foliage after a couple of weeks and it recovers soon. You just need to wait and not panic.
How often should you water a new beech hedge?
To keep your new hedge growing well, check out our tips from Morris, our resident horticulturalist. Do – water thoroughly. Give your new hedges and plants a thorough soaking. New bare root plants should have 5-10 litres of water once or twice a week (depending on the weather) for each metre of hedge.
Why is my new beech hedge dying?
New Beech hedges can be attacked by frost damage as they are yet to establish well in the soil. This occurs after the leaves just emerged. Frost damages the new, tender growth of Beech foliage. Affected leaves become brown and shrivel quickly.
Can you plant beech hedge in April?
Bare root plants – November to April: These are delivered to you straight from the growing fields with all the soil shaken off and ready for planting, they should be planted within a few days of delivery. Bare root plants are available from November until April which is the correct time for planting.
When should I cut my new beech hedge?
Year 1: While your beech hedge is growing, it's best to trim it in winter. One light cut, just nipping off the ends of the new growth is all it needs. Year 2: Now the hedge is really established, it should grow much faster: you can give it one very light clipping in midsummer and then another in winter.
How quickly does beech hedging grow?
This is one of the top questions people ask about beech hedging and with good reason. A fast-growing hedge will need more regular maintenance. On the other hand, a hedge that grows very slowly might take too long to reach the height you want (e.g. for screening purposes).
What conditions are best for growing beech hedging?
Beech hedges thrive in a soil that drains well but is not too dry. They do not fare well in wet, heavy soils and the roots will rot in these conditions. A hornbeam hedge might be a better option for this type of soil.
What is the best tool to trim beech hedges?
The recommended tool for trimming beech hedges would be pruning shears or hand pruners. Set up a string guide. If you’re looking for professional quality results, you’ll want the top and sides of the hedge to look level and even when you’re finished. Using a guide makes it easier to achieve those goals.
How to cut hedges at an angle?
Cut at an angle so the lowest part of the cut is near the base of the bud and the upper part is slightly above the bud. Clean up the trimmings. Clean as you go or rake up the trimmings when you’re done to give the hedgerow a tidy appearance.
Why trim hedges?
Routinely trimming hedgerows will not only keep them bushy and attractive looking, but it also provides gardeners with the means to control the height and width of the hedgerow.
How tall is a beech hedge?
Plant young plants and clip annually to form a neat hedge around 90cm-2.4m (3-8ft) tall, or taller if an object or view needs screening. Beech leaves die each autumn but, unlike most other deciduous trees, young and clipped beech holds onto its dead leaves throughout the winter. This gives great winter screening, but the hedge appears brown in winter.
How to get beech hedging?
Go to a hedging specialist to source reasonably-priced beech hedging plants. Most suppliers will offer bare-rooted plants by mail order in winter.
What leaves do beech trees have?
Beech naturally has mid-green leaves, but there are both purple-leaved selections such as Fagus sylvatica Atropurupurea Group and golden-leaved forms such as Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Gold’ available. Copper or purple-leaved types often flush red in autumn, as opposed to the yellow or orange-brown autumn colours of standard green-leaved beech.
How to propagate beech?
The easiest method to propagate beech ( Fagus sylvatica) is from seed by collecting ripe beech nuts or ‘masts’ in late summer or autumn. You can either sow them straight away or store them in the fridge to sow in February which helps avoid rodent problems in winter. Sow seeds individually in deep, narrow containers such as Rootrainers and place them outdoors. Alternatively, sow directly into a sandy seed bed. Seeds germinate at 10°C (50°F). Seedlings collected from purple or copper-leaved trees are likely to vary in the level of red or purple pigmentation.
How to keep beech trees from rotting?
Try to keep the base of newly planted trees or hedges free of weeds. Covering the soil with a 5-7.5cm (2-3in) layer of organic matter such as bark, composted bark or leafmould will help reduce moisture loss from the soil and suppress weeds, giving the beech roots a head start. Just take care not to bury the bottom of woody plants such as beech with mulch as this can lead to rotting around the base of the trunk.
What will cause beech trees to suffer?
Prolonged drought will cause beech trees to suffer.
How to protect specimen trees from sun scorch?
Allow your young specimen trees to keep their lower side branches until the crown has matured a little. This is to discourage the formation of more than one leading shoot (multiple leaders spoil the shape of the tree and can be prone to failure if allowed to mature) and to protect the main stem from sun scorch .
