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beech masts
ann raison
Posts: 1
I have 10 beech trees and at this time of year they are a problem. Have decided to try using them as drainage when planting up pots eg baby pansies which have seeded. Has anyone done this successfuly and can they think of another use for them - I have heaps!!
0
Posts
Won't the wildlife eventually make good use of them?
There was a drop in the population of small rodents last year because of the wet spring and summer and the floods, and consequently owls struggled to survive last winter - hopefully all the small rodents will have had successful broods this summer and now we have a mast year to feed them all - good news for the predators, owls, kestrels, stoats etc
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've had to look up what Beech masts are.
I'm now not sure if my "beech" hedge is a hornbeam, as I've never had any masts. It's hard to tell from google imagines what my hedge is. I think maybe hornbeam as it is in an exposed place and on clay.
Is it only mature beech trees that produce masts or do hedges also have them?
Any ideas ?
Beech hedges are usually kept clipped, which keeps them functioning as an 'immature' sapling, rather than a mature tree - that's why they don't fruit.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Better put the celebration wine away, was going to toast the new Hornbeam hedge
Thanks Dove, but still wonder what we've got. Pics I've found of the two don't look at all different to me. Don't suppose it really matters.
KEF I've found this, if it's any help ...
"While the leaves of the beech and the hornbeam are superficially similar, closer inspection reveals those of the beech to have smooth edges, while the hornbeam's are sharply serrated. Another giveaway is its buds which appear on the twigs in winter. The hornbeam's are flush to the branch in contrast to the beech's which are longer and slimmer and point out at an angle."
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks again Dove. Out to check it at the weekend.
We also have beech trees bordering the garden and end up with HUGE amounts of beech masts everywhere. Much better than mobile phone masts though
When I've managed to inadvertently plant them during potting on of small plants they do grow quite well, even if planted a long way down so I'm not sure they'd make good drainage.
I have potted some up and sold the small trees in 3" pots at charity events and the bull and chaffinches love them. It keeps the small birds going well over the winter.
The leaves on the hedge look slightly serrated but feel smooth not sharp. The new buds are slender and are at about a 30 degree angle from main twig.
I declare the hedge to be Beech
Thank you for finding the info' Dove.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Oh poo, that didn't copy very well - it's supposed to be dashing around shouting Woohoo!!!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.