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tree pleaching / getting hornbeam to hold leaves over winter

ttothetnpttothetnp Posts: 4
in Problem solving

Hello all, looking for advice from anyone who has knowledge about pleaching.

Our neighbours cut down the hedge along our border. We live on a steep hill, so the wall is about 3 m high (the hedge was on top of that on their side)

So, we planted about 15 4m hornbeam trees along our property border last March (2019). We were told to leave them for a year to settle and they are all still doing very well and must have grown the best part of another metre this year. However, they did lose all their leaves last winter (I think the nursery advised this was expected due to the shock of relocation etc? They did say they thought the trees held their leaves the previous year)

We really want them to keep their leaves this year and I'm really keen to get some advice on whether we can make this happen? From what I understand, we have to keep them thinking they are a hedge rather than a tree, so would some pruning at the top be the best thing?

Which leads me on to the next question. We originally wanted them to be pleached (don't really care how formally, just to present more of a visual border. Can we just sort of plait them together or do we need some sort of trellis. 

And lastly, could anyone advise who is the best person for this? Gardener? Tree surgeon? Or another sort of specialist? 

Thank you in advance! 


 

 

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    WElcome to the Forum. 
    I seem to have it in the deep , dark recesses of my tiny brain, that if you cut it after August they'll fall, but if You clip before they'll stay on. 
    Maybe it was just a dream
    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They won't retain leaves if they're too big. Around ten to twelve feet is about the maximum height, which might be a problem for you if you want foliage at height.
    Ideally trim earlier too, as @Hostafan1 says.

    As far as keeping them as a barrier, they take hard clipping very well, which is why they're perfect for pleaching. You can use a hedgetrimmer and cut them back to quite a narrow shape.
    Less than two feet is achievable, although as they're quite bulky already , it might be better to do that gradually, rather than all in one go. You could take them back by about a foot or eighteen inches just now.
    Even if you have the height to around 15 feet, you would still have a good framework of branches there, even if you didn't have foliage cover. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Beech and hornbeam need clipping twice a year so they retain their leaves. 

    First clipping in early June to shape and thicken up the hedge. 

    Second clipping in early August ... it will then grow a flush of new leaves and these are the ones that will turn a lovely shade of copper and remain on the hedge over winter. 

    Pleached beech and hornbeam need clipping like a hedge do it retains the leaves. 

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





  • ttothetnpttothetnp Posts: 4
    Thank you everyone for your fantastic and helpful replies, I really appreciate it! I will take on your advice and update as to how we get on. Thanks again
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