Green beech hedging plants (Fagus sylvatica) are used to offer natural and creativity hedges which are environmentally attractive to most horticulture individuals and landscapers, characterized by thick and green leaves and numerous practical applications beech hedges offer people privacy, windbreaks, and beauty. This article focuses on the opportunities of green beech hedging, how to plant it and take care of them as well as to explain why you need green beech hedging in your garden.
Benefits of Green Beech Hedging Plants
Year-Round Interest
Green beech hedges have foliage throughout the year with green leaves in spring and summer; the leaves change color to copper in the autumn. When the composition is done in winter, one can see the dried leaves which remain on the branches adding color and texture.
Privacy and Shelter
Row planting of beech hedges makes it possible for people to have a natural barrier against other people and elements such as wind and noise from the neighbors. Due to their thick growth, the plants enable provision of a favorable environment whereby there is a serene environment outdoors.
Wildlife Habitat
Beech hedges are useful to other living organisms since they act as a home and a source of food to birds, insects, and small mammals. They act a nestling area to birds and shield them, and are an essential source of food for pollinators.
Low Maintenance
After a beech hedge has been planted and properly developed, it is not a very demanding type of hedge. Which are found to be resilient and can grow in almost any type and quality of soil, giving it a perfect suitability for several garden environments.
Versatility
This type of beech is very diverse, can be trained and pruned to suite formality of the garden hedge, box like cut or more freely woven hedge. It means that they can be planted individually or planted side by side with other plants in creating a hedgerow.
Planting Green Beech Hedges
Choosing the Right Location
Sunlight: A mature beech hedge needs full sun to partial shade for it to be healthy all the time. Make sure that the location of interest gets adequate sunlight for a considerable part of the day.
Soil Type: Beech hedging can be grown on any type of soil ranging from clay, loam, and sand. But soil that drains very well is the best for the plant to grow well.
Space: This is particularly because the mature size of the hedge should be the main consideration when identifying the right planting location. Make sure that neighbors give the hedge adequate space to grow and prevent overcrowding of the hedge.
Planting Process
Preparation
- Remove unnecessary plants, organic matter, and stones from the part of the land that you are going to use for planting.
- Excavate a hole that should be approximately 30-45 cm wide and at the same depth as the root-ball diameter.
- Optimizing soil texture where one needs to lay organic soil stuff like compost or well rotted manure.
Planting
- If growing the plants to create a hedge, space the plants at a distance of 30 – 45cm.
- Put each plant in the trench equating the root ball to surface soil.
- Fill the trench with soil and press it down around the roots to expel air pockets that would hurt the plant.
- Irrigate the plants once immediately after planting to prevent settlement of the soil on the plant root system.
Mulching
- Organic mulch must be added to the base of the plants to conserve water, minimize weed growth and enhance soil condition.
Maintaining of Green Beech Hedging.
Watering
- Beech hedges are planted when they are still a young sapling, so, during the first year of growth, one has to water the sapling frequently.
- Beech hedges, once planted and growing, are not excessively thirsty and should be watered only if the drought persists for quite a long time.
Pruning
- Trimming of beech hedges should preferably be done in the middle of winter or in early spring to favor the emergence of plenty of buds.
- Prune the hedge every year to get rid of the undesirable branches and to manage the size of the hedge.
Fertilizing
- Water and fertilize your plant by using organic, slow release fertilizer that should be done early spring.
- Do not over-fertilize the hedge as this can cause excessive growth, and at the same time the hedge becomes weak.
Pest and Disease Control
- Check the hedge often to look for pests or diseases; this could be aphids or fungal grow ups.
- Insect infestations can be treated using the soap solution or fungicides to cater for health of the hedge.
Some of the uses that people get from green beech hedging plants include; As a natural barrier to prevent people from seeing into other’s compounds or as a shelter for many, they are very decorative to many gardens. Due to their perennial interest, wildlife attraction and being low maintenance, beech hedges are one of the best hedges that could be grown to mark a boundary. If you stick to the guide on planting and maintaining your green beech hedging you are sure to have a marvelous view of green hedge for many years to come.
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