Sign up to our newsletter for a 5 year guarantee. You could consider using a leaky pipe along the length of the hedge to save you hours of standing there with a hose. If you have planned ahead and are doing this in advance (gold star if you have! If you need the hedge to be stock proof you would need to plant in a double row. They first emptied their stocks of nutrients before dying. Do not plant when it is freezing. If you aren’t able to plant your entire hedge within a short period of time, such as a day or weekend, consider potted plants. In this guide, we outline all you need to know when planting beech hedging. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Learn more... Beech (Fagus sylvatica) plants make an excellent choice for hedging because they grow quickly and densely and remain beautiful for most of the year (except for mid-fall and winter). From three years and up, trim the sides of the hedge. They need trench planting. If you mulch, you will need less water. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. "Planted 20 European beech last summer, and so far they look great. Look closely, and all the trunk bases are perfectly straight â ⦠Take a sapling out of the Rootgrow mixture (or bucket of water) and hold it vertically in the trench while spreading out its roots so that as much root as possible is in contact with the soil. It is best planted at 3 plants per metre, one every 33cms, in a single row to allow sufficient room for the roots to establish but equally to be close enough for a tightly knit hedge to grow quickly. Then, using a garden line to keep the planting straight, cut slits across the fabric a little longer than your spade is wide. Beech isnât too fussy about location and will tolerate both sun and partial shade as well as windy locations. Check that the height of the "tide mark" on the trunk (which shows the soil level where the sapling grew before) is the same height as the surrounding soil. Powdery mildew is a powdery, grey fungal coating that affects a variety of hedging plants, such as native hawthorn hedges. Some famous examples include beech hedge plants, hawthorn, hornbeam and privet. The perfect time to plant a new hedge is between October and February. Larger beech hedging plants - from 80cms upwards have roots that are too big for slit planting and will need to be planted in a trench (more later). This is quick, but it requires the weed cover to be either killed before planting with a systemic, non persisting weedkiller such as glyphosate or to be starved of light (and so killed) before, during and after planting. Hedge Planting in Ireland Is A Great Way To Cultivate An Attractive Hedging Windbreak, Fence, Garden Feature For Your Garden. Hedging Plants For Boarders. Aftercare. Generally bare root beech is spaced 1ft apart, or 3 per metre. I have planted 6 beech hedge trees this spring in 2 planters. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Lay the Mypex along the line of the intended hedge. You will want to trim the plant into the shape of an ‘A’ with a flat top so that light can reach all of the parts of the hedge equally. The fabric or cardboard will keep light from reaching the soil, so no weeds will be able to grow in that spot. This can be done direct into the soil, but for ease of maintenance we strongly recommend you plant through Mypex as this will stop weed competition while the plants are still small. For a newly planted beech hedgerow, lightly trim the terminal growth bud off each shoot at the time of planting. Do not let too much touch the trunk because this can rot the bark. On poor sandy soils mix some leafmould or garden compost with the soil to be used to back fill. Ivy is a fantastic wildlife plant as it provides shelter for nesting birds, autumn flowers for late-flying insects and berries for birds and small mammals in winter. The green foliage gives way to beautiful copper and red colors in the fall. Alternately, you can use a water-soluble feed purchased at a garden supply store. Trench Planting. Although deciduous, it usually holds onto the dead leaves when grown as a hedge, so still offers privacy and shelter during winter. By using our site, you agree to our. Beech is a long-lived plant used extensively in Europe on estates and other properties. The beech is a ⦠loosen the bottom of the trench with a garden fork to help drainage. Otherwise do not prune your beech at all until the following spring. This will help the plant to settle into the soil and for the roots and soil to mix and bind together better. I moved an 8ft high beech hedge to the back of my garden from the front in November 2005 and lost 2 plants out of 24! Although plants do need space, there will inevitably be some failures leading to gaps, so it’s usually best to plant at fairly high density if you have an adequate number of saplings to do so. You should plant your saplings in late winter or early spring for the best results. In this video I plant a bare-root beech hedge in my garden. One of the most popular types of hedging planted in the UK, a beech hedge can last for hundreds of years. Watered well and more chicken manure on the top. References In a double row they will still be 33cms in each row however there will be two rows 40 cms apart and the slits in one row will be offset from those in the other row so the two are staggered forcing you to plant in a zig-zag. ), grass and large stones and other detritus from the soil that came out of the trench. Fast-growing, itâs perfect for small spaces as you can simply erect a frame for it to climb up and clip it as tightly as you see fit. ), put the soil back into the trench and allow it settle before planting. An unheated shed is probably best. Pick a spot to plant your beech hedge. Overgrown Beech Hedge Plants. A beech tree is best transplanted during the early spring months, when the weather is mild enough to avoid frosts, but not so hot that the plant will dry out. Place the plant in the hole, checking that the roots can be spread out fully. We are often asked this question â 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. Push the spade handle forward, then pull it back, making a slot in the ground. Backfill around the roots with the soil you removed from the trench. Finish the row and water it very thoroughly. Too often we see healthy young beech hedging getting smothered out by weeds. Bark is not designed to be submerged under soil and rots quite easily if you do so. Beech Hedging. Remove the spade. This means having two rows of plants. Repeat this process during the first two winters when the plant is dormant and in August of second summer. Fresh horse manure can ‘burn’ young saplings so don’t use it immediately before planting. Then bring the sapling upright, thereby "sweeping" the roots down into the slot. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica)âBeech trees are fast-growing deciduous trees that can be clipped into formal hedges. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. For pictures, please watch our. This technique is designed to be used in unworked ground and in windy spots. Bare root plants should be stored in temperatures just above freezing and the root casings should not be allowed to dry out. The plants should be planted in a staggered pattern â rather than one straight line. The first root should be just below the soil’s surface. Instead, standing on the Mypex and using an ordinary garden spade simply drive the spade into the soil, through the Mypex, down for about 2-3". When you need them, take out one bundle at a time, put the plants into your bucket of Rootgrow (or water if you are not using Rootgrow) and take them out one at a time as you plant them. A small beech hedge of 4ft in height will provide a nice demarcation within a garden, but most beech hedges tend to be around 6-7ft in height to give eye level privacy and can be grown taller if required. If planting in a staggered double row as is advised, aim for 6 plants per meter. If for some reason a root has been damaged cut it off with sharp secateurs and dispose of it elsewhere. Beech, also known as European Beech or Common Beech, has great wildlife value and is one of the best hedge plants ⦠Having a beech hedge on a property adds incredible value and is a substantial asset. It will need more water than normal. In the case of an already formed hedge, successive pruning is easier. If you intend on ⦠Planting in a trench involves digging and is hard work. Smaller plants are generally planted at higher density than tall plants. Last Updated: November 3, 2020 You can order at any time and your plants will be delivered to you at the best time for planting. You shouldn’t be able to see any roots above the soil line. Always try to cut close to a sprout. American beeches are less dogmatic about drainage, but there's never a downside to providing it. Select the precise location from which to take the cutting. One of the most popular types of hedging planted in the UK, a beech hedge can last for hundreds of years. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It also makes a fine hedge with bright green leaves that turn burnt orange in autumn. If you start preparing the ground a year before you plan to plant your hedge, you can also use special weed control fabric or big sheets of cardboard. The American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is sometimes called blue beech, but it is an unrelated species of small tree or shrub. At this time of year, the plants are becoming dormant for the Winter and so transplant well, and the soil temperature is still comparatively warm meaning that the plants will begin to make ⦠This will encourage branching. Avoid keeping them in a heated area such as in your home. How you plant a hedge will depend on how thick and large youâre hoping for it to grow. Mark out the estimated spread of roots, adding an extra 30-60cm (1-2ft). Pay particular attention to your plant’s water needs if its first summer in your yard is a hot and dry one. Planting Beech Hedging. How to grow beech. Excavate to at least 30cm (1ft) and fork over the base and sides. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Return along the row treading down the soil so that the roots are well ensconced and check each plant is vertical. No matter the size, beech hedging can be easy to plant, maintain and care for. Planting too deeply is the commonest mistake made when planting trees. Hi, just a note to let you know that we do use cookies to help us determine what our customers really want and therefore to give them the great service that they deserve. Beech is the most popular deciduous, formal hedge grown in this country. In year 1 in particular, if there is a dry week PLEASE WATER YOUR HEDGE. Weeding is key to success. If you want to keep the area looking tidy, sweep up the leaves around the hedge, but let the leaves that fall under the hedge remain where they are. Before planting, prepare the site by digging over ⦠Then just pull the canes out the following autumn. beech hedging plants and are for those who prefer words. This give a thicker and more robust hedge. The second person takes a sapling out of the Rootgrow mixture (keep them in a bucket of water if you are not using Rootgrow) and holds it just above the ground with the roots over and along the line of the slot. How quickly will a beech hedge grow? If you must make a mistake, planting shallow is better than planting deep. To minimize the amount of time your roots are exposed to the air, let the plant’s roots continue to soak in the water until the very moment you are ready to put them in the ground. Choose a branch that is slightly ⦠Young beech saplings of 40-60 or 60-80 cms tall can be slit planted (more later). If you have these conditions, Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) may be a good substitute for beech. 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. This will ensure that the soil and climate it will be growing in is best matched for the variety of beech tree. Allowed to grow to its full potential, beech forms a large majestic tree for spacious gardens. The layers of newspaper and wood chips will keep light from reaching the weeds that want to grow, effectively suppressing the weeds. Push one into the bottom of the trench next to each plant and tie them together with ordinary garden string (which rots in a few months). If you use Mypex, you will need less water. Do this all along one edge and then back along the other trying to keep the fabric taut. Larger plants are at least a year older and have very much bigger root systems. Place the hedge plant in the hole making sure that it's not planted any deeper than the original depth. There is a bit of an art to this: you neither want to completely compact the soil (especially if you are on heavy soil) or damage the roots by stamping down too hard but equally if the roots are not securely planted in the soil the sapling will move around or be blown over, the roots will come free from the soil and the sapling will struggle or die. I have watered them often; we are now in mid-June and 3 of them have turned brown and crisp. When planting as a hedge, get an advance on your hedge's eventual height by planting atop a low mound three or four feet wide and six or eight inches high at the center, where the line of beeches would be planted. The single most important thing is that there is no competition for food or water from other flora (weeds, including grass). A Beech hedge can last hundreds of years so it is important that you prepare the site thoroughly before planting. The better the contact between earth and root, the better the plant will establish. We also use cookies to enable you to buy products from us online in a convenient and secure manner. Beech will thrive in either acid or alkaline soil. We deliver these plus a range of planting accessories across mainland UK. You can cut it to width and peg it down if you want, but the following is much easier. We hope these instructions have been useful, but if beech is not for you, don't forget there is wide variety of possibilities so please have a look at the rest of our range of hedging. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. The first is to be kept free of weeds (including grass). Water really well in dry spells all through the first summer. However, be sure to only water it when the ground is dry around the base of the plant, as having to ‘hunt’ for water at a deeper level of ground helps the plant develop sturdy roots. When planting bare root beech you should first measire the length of hedging required. A newly planted beech tree hedge needs regular watering during its first year or two. Don’t remove any more root than is absolutely necessary. If possible try to avoid planting on a very windy day as roots tend to dry out very quickly then. Drought is not problematic once either plant is established. % of people told us that this article helped them. Your strategy for this can vary depending on the size of the plants you are using. For the first two years, prune the beech plants by using plant clippers to cut back the longer shoots and cutting off the tips of shorter ones. Beech Tree Planting Source: Scot Nelson. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 30,665 times. A beech transplanted into a city backyard looks something like Alice in the White Rabbit's house after she ate the growing mushroom. Weigh them down with rocks and other heavy objects. They all grew bright green and purple leaves. This way you donât need a guide to remodel your beech hedge. I found this information helpful, and I hope for. Keep in mind that pruning is a process where you are damaging the plant. When this is done, it should be very hard indeed to pull it out of the ground using just thumb and forefinger. Part of the reason for preparing your site this early is so the manure can rot down in the soil, becoming helpful for the plant rather than harmful. Measure the diameter of the boxwood trunk at the base of the plant. A newly planted beech tree hedge needs regular watering during its first year or two. If you are not sure when to plant your Beech Hedge, please have a read through this article: Best Time to Plant a Beech Hedge. Boring, but it really makes a difference to the bushiness of the hedge. It is a classic, beloved hedge choice and has the added benefit of holding its copper-colored fall leaves on the branches all the ⦠This article has been viewed 30,665 times. Lecture over. Hold the plant at about the level it was growing before it was lifted and stamp the ground down around the sapling. All Rights Reserved. After planting, your beech hedge should be watered regularly during its first year to give it the best chance of survival and this is especially important if your hedge is being planted in the drier summer months. Really well. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. This will help the plant grow thicker and denser. The treeâs leaves change color with the passing seasons, which make it an attractive hedge in many outdoor spaces. However, be careful not to over water as beech do not like waterlogged soil. Copyright © 2020 Ashridge Trees Limited. For bare roots, 3 plants per metre is adequate, 5 is good, 7 plants in a double staggered row makes a dense hedge quicker. Determine the Maximum Height of the Green Fence You Want. 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. No matter the size, beech ... Slit Planting. Hedge Maple (Acer campestre)âThis flowering maple plant is a trendy hedging tree with rapid growth. Try to keep the base of the hedge at about 3 ¼ feet (1 m) at the base, and then thin as you go up to your desired plant height. When collecting beech tree seeds, find a healthy beech tree that is growing within a 100 mile radius of where you will be planting the seeds. They should not curl back on themselves!
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