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Beech - Creating a bush from a small tree

robin 435robin 435 Posts: 54
in Plants
Hello

We recently purchased a small common beech tree which is about about 8ft tall and growing well. I'm interested in turning it into a single bush for garden screening.

I've searched the internet and found guides for trimming beech hedges but not specifically how to create a bush from a single tree. For hedges it recommends a light trim in august to encourage it to become bushy and retain its brown leaves in the winter.

Does anyone have some advice on how to trim the tree to create a bush please?

Thanks
Robin

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2018
    Can we see a photo of your beech tree please?  :)

    Also some idea (dimensions etc) of the area to be screened. 

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





  • robin 435robin 435 Posts: 54
    Thank for your reply, the tree is about 8ft high and 5 ft wide to the furthest tips, we'd like it to stay this size but become bushy...



  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072
    If you just take the tip off the leading branch out it will promote the side shoots to grow also I think because it looks quite whippy I would put a stake up it to keep the leading shoot straight. You can take the stake down when the leading shoot is thicker.
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