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Gappy beech hedge

Sam76Sam76 Posts: 151
in Problem solving
Hi
I have this beech hedge planted 3 years ago. As you can see there is repeated failure of some beech to take in some areas, despite replacing failures twice. What should i do? Dig out the soil and put new soil/compost in with the replacements? I have replaced them twice already. Move healthy plants to those spots?
Thanks

Posts

  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    Is the land yours on the other side of the fence? Ideally you'd want to keep the greenage on the other side a good distance away from your trees, so that it is not competing for water or nutrient.

    Also - celebrate your successes!



  • Sam76Sam76 Posts: 151
    Thanks Salix! No its not our land on the otherside. I keep the hedge fairly well mulched with woodchip & try to keep the neighbours grass/weeds back. Its just repeatedly the same spots where the plants dont take, despite replacing them twice
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    edited August 2023
    All the veg close by won't be helping. Could you strim it back? (Being very careful of the young trees). Would they mind? Maybe put some well rotted manure for the trees this autumn.

    It might have been better to plant the trees further on to your land, so you could clear a wide clear area around the bases.
  • Sam76Sam76 Posts: 151
    Thanks Silax. My neighbour used to put sheep or horses in his field to keep the grass down but hasnt this year
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @Sam76,

    We planted a copper beech hedge here 20 years ago.
    For a while it was similar to your with most plants OK but a few not thriving.
    I pulled out the ones which were struggling and then realised that moles had burrowed underneath, and the poor sapling trees where just dangling in fresh air.
    I potted these up to see if they could recover, and filled the gaps with new little plants.

    Twenty years on the hedge is fabulous, eight foot high and about 3 foot wide.

    The other thing you might want to consider is have any plants gone short of water?
    We had seep hose for ours, but took it away after 3 years.

    Good luck,
    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • Sam76Sam76 Posts: 151
    Thanks Bee.
    I watered them twice a week during our dry spell (northern ireland) in may. Its been a really wet July here & the ground is pretty damp at the best of times. I will keep persevering.
    Thanks all
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    @Sam76 Really wet? WET? Is that what you call it? My lawnmower sank today and no I'm not kidding! I had to rescue myself with next door's mower and a rope! 🤣 I'm just down the road. Also NI.
  • Sam76Sam76 Posts: 151
     :D 
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