I wouldn't get too hung up on the ivy re-growing. My hedge is 20metres in length and the groundcover to the base is almost entirely ivy. Some sharp secateurs and 20mins about 2 or 3 times a year keeps the worst of it at bay, its actually quite a satisfying job but appreciate not everybody's cup of tea.
We love our beech hedge and find it worth a bit of effort. It's about 50 years old and was very neglected when we got here. It's a thing of great beauty in winter and a robust barrier all year round. Although I love 'natural' hedges with a variety of native plants, including ivy, I think a properly tended formal hedge also has its place and you can't beat beech. Our neighbours are happy for us to undertake It's care from their side, too.
Thanks guys - this is the hedge at the end of the garden... so I assume the hedge at the top would look similar if the ivy was removed. Quite big gaps.
I'd be inclined to cut the ivy at the base, and the tendrils hanging down, but (as Posy suggested), leave the ivy branches inside the hedge in place - they'll act as something of a privacy screen over the winter.
Next year the beech will get going with less competition from the ivy. Once bird nesting season is over, in August, you can then check and cut any new ivy, and cut the beech back and down to encourage it to fill in the gaps...
Thanks guys - this is the hedge at the end of the garden... so I assume the hedge at the top would look similar if the ivy was removed. Quite big gaps.
It looks gappy now due to the fact most of the leaves have dropped but actually that's got pretty good form up top and it wouldn't take much for that to start filling out nicely.
Once you start regularly pruning it the hedge will start to behave slightly differently and hold on to more of its leaves. Beech are weird, if they're left to grow unchecked they think they're a tree and drop their leaves, however if you prune them twice a year then they begin to think they're a hedge and retain their bronze leaves through the winter months.
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Once you start regularly pruning it the hedge will start to behave slightly differently and hold on to more of its leaves. Beech are weird, if they're left to grow unchecked they think they're a tree and drop their leaves, however if you prune them twice a year then they begin to think they're a hedge and retain their bronze leaves through the winter months.
2. At the same time. I bend branches down and back, and tie if necessary, to fill gaps.
3. As soon as the young growth has begun to turn upwards, about June. I give a quick trim of sides. But I check for birds' nests first.
4. Once a year during July and August, I trim the top. If done at the right time, only one trim is needed.
5. Regarding "retaining their bronze leaves". See my thread that I have just "dumped".
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."