5 Level stump. How to Prune Beech Hedge. It needs to come down to around 6 ft high (so a fair bit of green waste). Beech hedging maintenance - Beech hedging is relatively low maintenance and by planning your beech hedging care routine carefully, you will only have to prune once or twice a year. times, RHS Registered Charity no. Growing the European Beech. The growth rate of Beech hedges can be highly influenced by growing conditions and area of planting, that can influence the level of maintenance and pruning that’s required. Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea' can be tidied up in June, if it’s looking a little messy but we'd recommend pruning an established beech hedge … Pruning times vary depending on the type of hedge. H x S: 4m x 8m Purple Beech hedging is relatively low maintenance and by planning your beech hedging care routine carefully, you will only have to prune once or twice a year. After the reduction I'll be trimming one side. RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected copper beech, There is nothing better than a beech hedge to provide a stately formal hedge in your garden. This watering can be made easy if you take the time to set up a drip irrigation pipe when planting. The only soil beech doesn’t like is drought or very wet soil. It’s a great alternative to an evergreen hedge, as its coppery autumn foliage remains on the plant until new foliage grows in spring. Bare root hedging can come in various ways but the only way they should be bought and sold is fresh out of the ground and wrapped in black polythene sacks. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. The naturally large European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is well-known as a towering deciduous tree, but it also can be shaped into a stunning hedge. Other ways to ensure your Beech is kept moist is to add a good helping of manure when planting and then to cover over the soil surface with mulch such as bark chippings, While bark chippings will keep the soil moist it will also keep the weeds at bay. How to Trim Hedges for Optimum Health Hedge maintenance is a simple process that can be easily integrated into a landscape routine. No matter the size, beech hedging can be easy to plant, maintain and care for. Size doesn’t matter. Where possible we suggest using organic weed control methods: © 2018 HowtoGarden.ie — All Rights Reserved. Fortunately, the winter is an ideal time to plant your beech hedge. The European beech is suitable for a formal hedge. Beech hedge reduction advice Posted by Green Girl Garden Care on July 18, 2018 at 5:05pm in Plants I've been asked to reduce a mature beech hedge by around half down to a height of 6 foot requiring cutting through stems of up to wrist thickness. Weeds are  a big problem for any hedge but one advantage of beech is that it goes dormant around November and this is a safe time of year to spray the week growth under the hedge. The only real important job to … Beech Hedge Planting and Maintenance. Keep bare root plants in their bag until time of planting. Watering your beech hedging This is all weather dependent, and if we have a dry summer then you could be in for a lot of work. Hope Grove Nurseries grow both green beech hedging and purple beech hedges in a massive range of sizes. This clipping keep At Beech Gardening Services, ... so we will take that off your hands. Beech hedge plants are a favourite in UK gardens and are one of the UK’s most well-known hedging varieties. The Beech and Hornbeam in the finished hedge will be a haven for wildlife, especially if under-planted and once established will require no more regular maintenance than a standard hedge. Pruning hedges contributes to its overall health and quality and keeps it at the desired size. 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. Likewise, pruning at the correct time of year allows beech hedge plants to retain their foliage throughout the winter. This hedge can grow up to an incredible height 10m in height. Beech Hedging. When planting beech and especially bare root beech there are a few things to keep in mind: Choose good quality stock. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, Our Garden Centres and online shops are packed with unique and thoughtful gifts and decorations to make your Christmas sparkle, General enquiries Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. A Fagus Sylvatica hedge will also make your garden look lively. It also makes a fine hedge with bright green leaves that turn burnt orange in autumn. Generally, the European beech should be pruned in spring. Beech hedges are usually maintenance pruned in September getting a little re growth before winter when it can be formative pruned into shape. It is an essential part of garden maintenance and will ensure your garden always looks its very best, Little and often is the best way. Green Beech (Fagus sylvatica) instant hedging is unusual in that it holds these dead leaves on the branches over the winter until they are pushed off by the new leaves coming though in the spring, As long as you avoid heavy clay soil and very wet soil, Beech will grow in a wide range of soil types, but is particularly suitable for chalky soils and shallow soils over Limestone. Allowed to grow to its full potential, beech forms a large majestic tree for spacious gardens. Maintenance of a Beech Hedge. Other semi-mature t Dig a decent trench sized trench and add a 4 inch layer of well rotted farmyard manure to the base. Even 2ft tall beech hedging plants will quickly establish and mature to form a strong hedge. It also works with certain fruit trees including lime, apple, and pear.Read on for further information about the pleaching technique and how to pleach trees. If using a weedkiller choose a contact weed killer instead of a residual weed killer, Lastly feed in spring with a nitrogen and phosphorus based feed and cut in August with a sharp garden shears or hedge trimmer, EU Legislation under SUD (Sustainable Use Directive) requires those using Glyphosate Weedkiller to complete a training course & gain a certificate in safe use, It is important to always read the label & carefully follow the dilution rates found on the bottle, Avoid apply glyphosate early in the mornings as this is when bees are most active. Soak plants well before planting and ensure theyre roots are well spread out in the trench before back filling. Hedges require formative pruning on planting, ... Pruning times vary depending on the type of hedge. One of the most popular types of hedging planted in the UK, a beech hedge can last for hundreds of years. Hedge trimming. This hedging tree has average growth and when in full foliage, creates an excellent privacy screen. And as we have lost over 200,000 miles of field and roadside hedgerows, you will also have the satisfaction of doing your bit to redress the balance. One thing for sure is that Beech Hedging is a hardy plant and is happy in most conditions. If you miss this date then it is best to wait until the spring. Search. Keep in mind that pruning is a process where you are damaging the plant. Laurel Hedge A laurel hedge should be maintenance pruned in Mid- August, if you are using powered shears to trim the hedge it may be worth wile to go back over it again with hand shear to remove any half ripped leaves which can make the hedge look ragged. Although deciduous, it usually holds onto the dead leaves when grown as a hedge, so still offers privacy and shelter during winter. In the past 5 years our summers have been mixed, but there always a period during these months where manual watering will be required. Cut off the top and one side in one winter, leaving the other side for the next winter. It will look decorative in autumn and give your garden a lot of color. How Quickly Does a Beech Hedge Grow? First make sure that there is no active green growth on the plant, also only spray the weeds and avoid contact with the plant as best possible. Common Beech hedges (Fagus sylvatica) description Beech (Fagus sylvatica) hedging offer a bright and beautiful display of green hues throughout spring and summer, with the medium-sized leaves adopting warm autumn colours and crisping during the colder months. Also because Beech is semi evergreen, it retains its foliage longer for the winter losing it slowly as spring approaches, Remember to keep a young Beech hedge well watered in its formative years. If you are looking to renovate your hedge then cut it back in February – although delay this if it is still very cold. Everything you need to know about choosing the right beech for you. Hornbeam hedges are similar to beech hedging as they have copper-colored leaves in the fall. Firing up the hedge trimmer may get the job done quicker, but rough-hewed leaves can turn brown and leave the beech hedgerow looking unattractive. Ideally they should be cut back after each flush to keep them tidy. The notes below apply to mature beech hedges in good condition that have reached or are near their final height.. New hedges: Formative clipping of a new beech hedge is necessary: Please read that section if you have just planted or are planning to plant a beech hedge. Purple Beech hedge (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea') description. We will undertake regular trimming of all types of hedges, from box to laurel. Beech Hedging - Clipping and Pruning . The best height for growing Carpinus betulus as an easy-to-care-for hedge is between 3 and 16 ft. (1 – 5 m). An established Beech hedge has an average growth rate of around 30-60cm per year but reaches a maximum of 5m plus once mature. The rest of the time, beech hedging is the way to go. It's around 9-10ft tall, 4-5 ft wide and 150ft long. It is essential this takes place with attention. We receive a lot of questions about how to trim hedges. Bare-root beeches are relatively cheap, especially when compared to potted plants or instant hedges, but they are only available during the winter. High quality and extremely fresh, our beech hedging is the ideal fencing solution for your garden or outdoor space. Hedges are similar to beech hedging and purple beech hedge can be dealth with once %... Integrated into a landscape routine crucial for a formal hedge when planting beech and bare... Spread out in the UK, a beech hedge ( Fagus Sylvatica 'Purpurea ' ) description best to until! 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