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Encouraging low growth on a young Purple Beech

HerderOfCatsHerderOfCats Posts: 6
edited June 2023 in Plants
I planted a mixed hedge in April this year including 3 purple Beeches.

They were 60-80cm pot grown plants (I left it too late for bare root plants) which were in bud at the time of planting, I pruned the growing tips to try and encourage bushing but while there has been plenty of new growth from the top of the plants both horizontally and vertically, there's barely anything below, one plant has a solitary spindly stem, the other two have nothing at all below around 50cm. 

Will they naturally fill out if left to their own devices or is there anything I can do this summer to help them along? I suppose the long term solution would be to hard prune the plants when they're established (maybe the winter after next) but are there other options?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They'll take several years to grow and fill out, assuming you've prepped the ground well and kept them watered etc. The other planting is also a factor as some will be quicker to establish and grow, and will tend to outdo others. 

    It isn't instant with hedging, especially when you're using whips which are essentially potential trees.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HerderOfCatsHerderOfCats Posts: 6
    Thanks, that's good to know :smile:

    Prep consisted of digging a trench, breaking up the (clay) soil along the sides and base of the trench then mixing in smelly soil improver. When the weather hasn't obliged  I've given the hedge a thorough soaking weekly with lighter watering once every 2-3 days, more often on the particularly hot and sunny days.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Light watering is always a bad idea. Soak properly every 3 or 4 days. That encourages roots to get down. Light watering does the opposite and is counter productive - especially at this time of year. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • HerderOfCatsHerderOfCats Posts: 6
    Fairygirl said:
    Light watering is always a bad idea. Soak properly every 3 or 4 days. That encourages roots to get down. Light watering does the opposite and is counter productive - especially at this time of year. 
    Ah okay, thanks. I'll bear that in mind.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    When they were grouped together in a nursery the bases of the trees were probably quite shaded.

    Now they’re spread out the lower parts of the trunks will get more light and that will trigger the lower buds to produce shoots.

    It may take a couple of seasons but you should get a lovely thick hedge. 

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





  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Mixed hedge.  You can rely on the neighbouring trees to fill out the base.  But if there is plenty of light, the beech should contribute eventually.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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