Beech 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 close enough for a tightly knit hedge to grow quickly. For a stock proof hedge, you would need to plant in a staggered double row, with the rows 40cm apart.
How long does it take a beech hedge to 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.
How far apart do you plant beech?
To grow beech as a hedge, space plants from 25-45cm apart, depending on plant size and how quickly you want to achieve a dense hedge. For quick results, plant in a double staggered row with 30cm between the two rows. Plant into well-cultivated weed-free ground, at the same depth as the plant was growing previously.
When should a beech hedge be set?
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.
How do you lay a beech hedge? – Related Questions
How do you prepare a beech hedge for soil?
Prepare your Trench
- Dig out a trench 2 ft wide & 1 ½ foot deep.
- Use a string line to ensure trench & hedge is straight.
- Remove all roots & stones from hole.
- Keep soil close by.
- Add farm yard manure. Manure should be well rotten.
- Add 4 inches to base of hole & fork into soil.
How many plants do you need for a beech hedge?
Planting a Beech hedge
For bare roots, 3 plants per metre is adequate, 5 is good, 7 plants in a double staggered row makes a dense hedge quicker. Smaller plants are generally planted at higher density than tall plants.
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.
Can you trim a beech hedge in October?
After the summer growth spurt, deciduous hedges, like beech and hornbeam, need to be pruned before the leaves change colour and fall. September is the best month to do it.
When should I cut my beech hedge for the first time?
Prune a beech tree, if necessary, between autumn and early spring. It is usual to create a clear trunk of 2.4-3m (8-10ft) to allow the sweeping lower branches some space to develop. Cuts with a diameter larger than 6cm (2½in) may not heal so readily so try to keep these to a minimum.
How long does it take to season a beech?
Beech Wood
Another popular hardwood option, beech firewood has a slightly lower heating value than white oak and, just like white oak, beech contains a lot of moisture and so is rather difficult to dry. As a result, beech takes an average of between 12 and 24 months to season properly.
Do beech trees need a lot of water?
This plant has average water needs. Make sure it gets about 1 inch of water per week through rainfall and/or irrigation. Do not allow water to puddle around the tree, as this can cause root rot. Fully mature American beech trees will tolerate short dry spells, but this is not a tree well suited for a long drought.
Where does beech grow best?
Beech trees can grow in anything from full sun to part shade, according to Neese, and they do best in moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soil. They’ll adapt to variations on this, but the soil needs to be well-draining in order for them to thrive.
What is the average life span of a beech tree?
Age. Beech may live for 350 years (if managed as a pollard), although 250 may be more typical on many sites. On upland sites and as pollards beech may be 400 years old. Beech are ancient from 225 years onwards, although many have ancient characteristics from around 175 years.
Is a beech hedge the same as a beech tree?
The Meikleour Beech Hedge, Perthshire. The beech used is the same plant — Fagus sylvatica — as the tree, though you can also make a hedge from Copper Beech. Source one from a hedging specialist and you’ll get plants that are the right size and ready for planting at 45-60cm intervals (18-24 inches).
How far should a beech tree be from a house?
| Species | Normal Mature Height (M) | Safe Distance (M) |
|---|
| Ash | 23 | 21 |
| Beech | 20 | 15 |
| Birch | 14 | 10 |
| Cypress | 25 | 20 |
Do beech trees have invasive roots?
Despite their prolific nut production, many beech trees reproduce from root sprouts (suckers). The root system of a beech is very shallow (with the exception of a large taproot). Lying close to the surface, these roots are susceptible to injury, which stimulates the growth of suckers.
What kills beech hedge?
Frost damage
The new tender Spring growths of Beech hedges can be severely damaged by late Spring frosts that occur after the leaves have emerged. As Beech is quite late to come into leaf this may not be a common occurrence and a frost of this nature is likely to damage other susceptible trees and shrubs as well.
What kills a beech tree?
Plantation grown trees can suffer from beech bark disease, resulting from the combination of a sap-sucking scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) and canker fungus (Nectria coccinea). Severe infestations can kill affected trees. It is also very vulnerable to bark stripping by grey squirrels.