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How is my Beech hedge doing?

MertynMertyn Posts: 13
in Plants
Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice on my newly planted Beech hedge.

I planted 67 30/50cm tall cell grown Beech plants in early Oct 2017. They span about 15/16 metres.

With each plant I added bonemeal and Mycorrhizal fungi. I've installed a leaky hose to water the hedge (1-1/2 hours at a time, previously once a week, more frequently at the moment). I've mulched heavily with bark and have spot weeded by hand whenever any weeds appear.

My question is how do you think it's progressing? They didn't leaf out until the first week of June, some of the plants don't appear to have added any growth beyond their original leaves.

I think earlier in the year I may not have been watering enough so i've upped the frequency recently. I've occasionally used a seedweed fertiliser. I've noticed that some of the plants have wooly aphids so their leaves are quite sticky, I've not attempted to treat this.

Is there any more I could be doing to improve their growth rate and general health?

Here are some photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZzwkWCSPuxi5JorC9

Thanks!

Posts

  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    They all seem to have made at least some new growth, so Id say they are doing fine. In this weather in their first year I wouldnt expect too much to be honest. I think you will find once they have made a decent rootstock by next spring they will start growing away much more quickly 
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    They look good and healthy to me - nice job!

    You've done all the right things re watering and mulching. 

    It might be worth just pulling back a bit of the mulch and putting a trowel in about 6" into the soil just to make sure it's not too wet down there. A thick layer of mulch does an excellent job of retaining moisture and you don't want to over water either. The only way to tell is to check - you're aiming for dampish rather than wet.

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • MertynMertyn Posts: 13
    Thanks both.

    I was originally more concerned about my soil not draining properly, I know they don't like having wet feet! However I have seen a marked improvement since i've upped the frequency of watering them about 3 weeks ago.

    Having said that I will do as you say and check that i'm not overwatering and that the soil is draining freely.

    Any advice r.e aphids and fertiliser?
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I wouldn't worry too much about the aphids unless they become a really serious problem. Every couple of days give them a bit of a blast with a hose jet or a soapy water spray or squish them with your fingers. Much easier to control on small plants with a low infestation.

    Not too sure about the fertiliser. I really like liquid seaweed as a gentle foliar feed / general plant tonic. However, these plants may be a bit young for feeding this season. Maybe ease off on that and save it for next year. 

    Maybe somebody else knows for sure.

    @Dovefromabove usually has sound advice for looking after baby shrubs and trees so I'll tag her in.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Do I ? :o:)   Well, I think I usually advise plenty of water ... especially in weather like this ... I planted some trees and a mixed hedge in the spring of the '76 drought ... we watered it at least every other day with buckets of pond water and bath water and water from the washing machine ... it all survived and looks good even now  :)

    All the growing in the first year should be going on underground ... I wouldn't really advise feeding just yet ... gently does it ... just keep the base of the hedge free from grass/weeds etc ... I'd feed with Fish, Blood and Bone next spring.

    If the aphids look bad brush them off with your fingers or a jet from the hose, and attract bluetits to the area with a feeder nearby ... next year they'll harvest the aphids for you  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MertynMertyn Posts: 13
    Thanks guys, excellent advice - i'll keep doing what i'm doing and look forward to the major growth next year :smile:

  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    Similar advice then - that's good :) . I think that 9especially if you used mic. fungi) there will be a lot of activity going on underground at the moment.

    I used it for the first time a few years ago when I planted up a large border. When I came to move a poorly placed shrub the next year I couldn't believe the mass of roots that had grown - much more than I would have expected without the use of fungi. Not much top growth in the first year - but lots and lots below ground. 

    There's quite a good maxim for shrubs, roses etc -  "Year One - sleep, Year Two - creep, Year Three - leap.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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