Hornbeam (Second Rate)

Please note these are second rate trees and all have crooked stems and/or scarring on the trunk and the price reflects this.  They are suitable for screening where a first rate tree is not required.  Each tree is perfectly healthy, but will not look perfect for formal planting.  These are only supplied as bare root due to cheap end of season price and can only be delivered locally (at additional cost) or can be collected from our nursery.  THESE ARE ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL MID/END MARCH 2025.

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a very traditional variety of tree and is native to the UK. The first green leaves of the year are synonymous with the arrival of spring and the leaves will remain green until the autumn when they will turn a golden-copper brown colour. Hornbeam, unlike many of its deciduous competitors, will retain its dead leaves on the hedge for most of the winter and they will only be pushed off by new growth the following spring. This helps a hornbeam tree to give an added level of visual privacy all year round.

Hornbeam are much more tolerant of wet and heavy soils than beech but if you are planting during the drier months of the year, it is important to water them properly during their first year after planting. This is best done using leaky hose which is cheap, easy to install and highly effective. See our Accessories page for more details.

You will see that there are a couple of size options for these trees depending on stem girth required.

The size of the tree is measured in centimetres and refers to the stem girth of the tree at approximately 1m above ground level.  Most of these trees will be around 3-4m in height but please note they are not sold by height, they are sold according to stem girth.  If in doubt about what this means, please do call the nursery and we will be happy to advise you.

Bare root trees are dug from our fields with no soil around their roots.  They must be planted immediately after receiving them to reduce the chances of their roots drying out and struggling to establish.  As there is no soil around their roots, they are a cheaper option for planting.

Due to the size of these Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) trees, we will need to quote for delivery on an individual basis. Please telephone us to discuss delivery of your plants. Plants can, of course, be collected from our nursery free of charge.

Careful preparation of your planting site is important and we recommend mixing your soil with compost and/or farmyard manure to give your trees the best start. It is also extremely important to plant using a tree stake and tie to support your tree in its first few years to avoid it blowing over until its roots have properly established as anchors in the ground.

We also stock a range of other specimen trees suitable for garden planting. These can be viewed on our trees page.

If you are looking for hornbeam hedging as opposed to standard hornbeam trees, please visit the hornbeam hedging category page where all of our hedging is available.

For more information about Hornbeam or to discuss alternative products, call us on 01252 714552 or email us on sales@hedgesonline.com