The common beech, botanically Fagus sylvatica, is native to all of Europe where the climatic conditions are predominantly damp and cool. As the most common deciduous tree, it significantly shapes the image of our forests in this country. No wonder that the common beech is one of the popular hedge plants, because it is perfectly adapted to our weather conditions. You can find out how and when to best plant a red beech hedge in our detailed instructions.
beech hedge
location
A copper beech is a fairly undemanding tree that grows both in light shade and in the sun. The leaves of the deciduous tree are a glossy dark green in summer and change color from light yellow to orange-red in autumn. Where the wood feels comfortable, the withered leaves remain on the branches until new growth occurs in spring. This makes them particularly attractive as a hedge.
floor
Beech trees thrive best on humus-rich sandy and loamy soils that store moisture well. On the other hand, the subsoil must also be able to drain off the water easily, because the otherwise robust beeches cannot tolerate drought and waterlogging.
- normal garden soil
- well drained
- loamy
- fresh to moist
- medium nutritious
- rich in humus
- pH value: slightly acidic to calcareous
plant selection
If you want to plant beech trees as a hedge, you can choose between seedlings, stem bushes and so-called heisters in tree nurseries. Seedlings and heisters are usually sold bare-rooted. Since they dry out very quickly, they must be planted quickly after purchase. If this is not possible, they can also be placed in a vat and watered regularly. However, this is only possible for a few days, otherwise the beech will be damaged.
- Seedlings: once transplanted, hardly branched young plants (cheap price)
- Heister: shrubs transplanted two or three times, better branched
- Peduncles: several years old, richly branched, mostly in containers or as bales
Although standard bushes of Fagus sylvatica are already very well developed and thus form a privacy screen quite quickly, these variants are also very expensive. They are usually used for planting solitary trees. For very long hedges, hedges about 80 to 100 centimeters high are ideal. When buying, make sure that the plants are at least 60 centimeters high and that no injuries are visible.
European beech, Fagus sylvatica
tip: When you buy the beech seedlings, they often look a bit sparse and modest. However, if the shrubs are healthy, they will thrive vigorously after planting.
Special Varieties
Despite the addition "red" in the name, beech trees do not have red leaves. If you prefer a hedge with red leaves, you should therefore choose the copper beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea'). The leaves of this red beech variety glow red as soon as they sprout.
planting time
The right time is important so that a newly planted beech hedge can grow well. Ideally, plant the hedge in the fall, before the first frosts. This gives the trees and shrubs a chance to develop before they go into hibernation. Although the beech trees have stopped growing above ground at this point, root growth is still active at temperatures of at least seven degrees. The damp weather conditions in autumn also have a positive effect on the growth of the beech hedge. Any cavities are closed by the rain and the roots get good contact with the garden soil. If you missed this date, you can still plant container goods in spring.
- ideal planting time: mid-September to the end of October
- in frost-free weather until early spring
- Applies to bare root plants and container plants
- alternative planting time for balled and potted plants: March to mid-May
- generally possible all year round
- only on calm, overcast days
preparation
Before you actually start planting the hedge plants, there are a few more measures to take to ensure that the best conditions for easy growth are in place.
1. Soil improvement measures
The soil should be loosened well before planting the beech hedge. Additional drainage is recommended for heavy substrates that tend to waterlogging. In this case, mix the excavated earth with sand and humus or compost. In very sandy soils that do not retain moisture well, mixing in garden soil and compost is recommended. Also remove any weeds, large rocks and old roots in the planting area.
2. Water trees and shrubs
The young trees need a few days to grow into their new location. During this time there is no intensive contact between the roots and the soil, so they can only absorb a small amount of moisture from the soil. So that the hedge does not dry out, the trees and shrubs must be watered generously before planting. Balled and potted plants should be placed in a bucket or tub of water for about an hour before planting until air bubbles stop rising.
Bare root beech trees
Bare-rooted Fagus sylvatica are often offered in tree nurseries. These variants should be planted in the garden without long storage times, otherwise the fine roots will dry up and die. However, these red beeches must not stand in the water for longer than about an hour.
tip: It is best to place bare-root beech trees in a shady spot and plant them as soon as possible.
planting depth
A string is stretched over the entire length so that the hedge looks straight. You can either dig individual planting holes or better yet, dig a planting ditch. The ditch has the advantage that it ensures better loosening of the garden soil. Be careful not to plant the shrubs too deep. The top layer of soil in the pot should be flush with the soil level. A copper beech reacts quite strongly to heaps of earth in the root area. Just ten centimeters of additional ground level can cause a red beech hedge to die off over a long period of time.
- Planting hole: at least twice the depth and width of the root ball
- Planting trench: at least 50 cm deep and wide
- Planting depth: as before
- do not plant deeper or higher
- for bare-rooted plants, all roots must be below ground level
planting distance
Just as important as the correct planting depth is the right distance between the individual copper beeches so that the trees can grow healthy and strong. When planting in rows, you should count on two to four plants per meter. If you want a really densely growing privacy and noise protection hedge, you can create a staggered double row.
- Planting distance simple row planting: about 25 to 30 cm
- Distance double row: 30 to 40 cm
- Shrubs per meter (double row): 4 to 7
use plants
First, the planting holes or the ditch may be filled with a layer of drainage material such as clay granules or grit. Then add excavation enriched with compost and loosely place the individual plants at the right distance. Finally, fill in with the remaining soil. Before you step on it with your foot, check the planting distance again and whether the beech hedge is straight. Corrections are still possible. It is best to create a pouring rim right away.
notice: Be sure to observe the applicable legal regulations for the minimum distance to neighboring properties. This mainly depends on the planned height of the hedge.
maintenance
A red beech hedge does not need any special maintenance measures. After planting, however, it is important to ensure sufficient moisture in the soil so that the beech trees can grow well. It is therefore necessary to water regularly during longer dry periods. It is also good for young trees if they are supplied with horn shavings or other organic long-term fertilizers in spring.
To cut
In a perfect location, beech trees grow very vigorously until they are 50 years old. The trees can easily grow between 40 and 70 centimeters per year in height and width. A real growth spurt can be observed between April and May in particular. In order to limit growth and form an attractive hedge out of the beech trees, the trees are ideally cut back twice a year. The first cut may be made at planting. At this point, however, one simply removes any dead or broken branches to prevent the entry of pathogens.
- Cut young plants only once a year (end of June)
- Cut new growth in half
- initially only cut side shoots
- later twice a year
- additionally in February
- cut about three quarters of the new shoots
notice: If you shorten the main stem of young plants, the beech will no longer be able to grow significantly taller. Therefore, wait with the cut in the upper area until the desired growth height is reached.