Beech is also known as Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica). As well as the normal green beech, we also supply Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea).
Why should I plant a beech hedge?
Beech is a native deciduous tree to the UK. It is one of the most traditional forms of hedging found across the country and its green leaves are synonymous with the arrival of spring. Unlike some of its competitors, beech leaves will remain on the tree for most of the winter in their golden-copper state and look highly attractive and some people prefer this as a true evergreen alternative. As well as being a haven for wildlife and nesting birds, beech is very suited to many soil types.
How tall will beech grow?
Beech can be grown as fine trees and are found in many of the UK’s woodlands, many being very ancient and of a great height. That being said, they respond extremely well to clipping and hedgemaking, making them one of the most popular choices for hedges in this country. 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.
How quickly will a beech hedge grow?
Beech hedging grows relatively quickly and one can expect 1-1.5ft (30-45cm) per year after planting. However, once the hedge has reached its desired height it should be trimmed at that height accordingly to maintain its size and density. This will slow down the upward growth of your hedge to a much more manageable level meaning it can easily be trimmed once a year.
When should I clip or trim a beech hedge?
A beech hedge will need to be clipped annually in the Spring or Autumn as you would with any other hedge. If trimming in the spring, be careful to avoid the bird nesting season.
How far apart should I plant a beech hedge?
Beech should be planted 1.5ft (45cm) apart in a single row or alternatively 2ft (60cm) apart in a double row and careful preparation of the planting site is important. See section below on how to look after your beech hedge after planting.
How do I look after my beech hedge after planting?
Although beech plants will put up with most soil types (apart from wet ground), we recommended that the planting soil is mixed with compost to give the plants the best environment to grow in for their first year. If you are planting bare-root beech hedging plants, we also recommend using Rootgrow which helps the plants produce a secondary root system after planting to give the best chance of successful establishment. 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. However, be careful not to over water as beech do not like waterlogged soil.
How do I water my beech hedge?
Watering a beech hedge is especially important if you are planting during the summer or a dry period. For watering, we recommend using leaky hose (sometimes described as porous pipe) which can be connected to your existing hose pipe and will slowly leak water onto the roots of your hedge in a controlled manner to ensure that it soaks in and your hedge becomes properly watered. Leaky hose is cheap, easy to install and very effective. See our Accessories page for more details on leaky hose.
Is beech tolerant of different soil types?
Beech will thrive in most soil types but do not like being in waterlogged soil. if you have heavy clay or wet land, we recommend planting a hornbeam hedge instead which is a visually similar alternative to beech.
Does beech like full sun or shade?
Beech will grow extremely well in full sunshine or partial shade.
We usually stock a large selection of different sizes of beech throughout the year. In the winter we stock a range of bare root beech hedging which provides a cost effective solution to planting a beech hedge and all year round we supply a range of pot grown beech hedging which can be planted in the drier months if properly watered.
For more information on our availability of beech hedging or if you have any questions or queries about existing beech hedges or need advice about planting a new beech hedge, please call us on 01252 714552 or email sales@hedgesonline.com