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Hedges

mountharrymountharry Posts: 3
in Plants
We have a 60yr old beech hedge, 12-14ft high, trunks from two to eight ins. in diam.  If we cut it down to, say, 18ins, is there any hope that it will regrow?
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,093
    If it's reasonably healthy think it would regrow, but it might take years to get back to a decent hedge. Normally to reduce the size of a non-conifer hedge you would do it over three years,  one side at a time and then reduce the height (to avoid complete loss of the screening). For more detail, see  https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=398
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,803
    I think it might be risky and agree with @JennyJ that a 3 step approach would be better and reduce the shock to the plants.  A beech hedge can be a thing of beauty as well as shelter for wildlife so I would start by cutting it down to the eventual height you would like this winter before the sap starts rising again in late January.  Take the sides back a bit if you like but nothing too drastic at this stage.

    Next August, once any birds have fledged form nests, cut back one side to reduce the width.   Next winter, take the height back down again.  The following August, cut back the other side in August and then the top again in winter and it should be safe by then to trim the stems on the first side to reduce the width.

    Assuming it responds well to that and regenerates well you can then, in successive years, gradually trim it back further all over if needed and you should end up with a lovely, healthy, thick hedge but don't try and reduce it to small thing like a box parterre.  

    Make sure your loppers, secateurs and pruning saw are clean and sharp so you get clean cuts and don't introduce pathogens to fresh wounds.  Don't cut on days when frost is forecast within a few days as this will also damage wounds.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • mountharrymountharry Posts: 3
    Thank you both for your very helpful advice.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I have a beech hedge which is a thing of beauty and I feel that to reduce it to 18 inches would be completely wrong, and unnatural. If you want a tiny hedge, why not take it out and put in something miniature? On a practical note, you will have thick trunks which will look horrible in winter when the leaves shrivel and I think the trees will be too damaged to grow well in summer.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,093
    I think I misunderstood - I thought the suggestion was to cut it back to 18" and let it regrow. You won't be able to keep a beech hedge looking good at 18". Beechgrove did a trial of plants for low hedging a while back, which you might find useful if it's a low small hedge that you want. There's a factsheet here https://www.beechgrove.co.uk/Leaflets  under programme 6, 2019.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,043
    I have just had a wildly out of control beech hedge cut to 3ft (you can see old cuts it has been 3ft before. It’s just a row of 3ft fat stumps! I’m sure it will regrow, but it’s going to look terrible for a good while. I’d prefer it removed, but hey ho. 
    Not sure what 18inches is about, I’d have thought 3ft would be the minimum you’d want. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,803
    I'm assuming the 18" suggestion was in a bid to regenerate a healthy but less substantial hedge.   I don't think it would look good at under 5 or 6'.

    If, however, an 18" hedge is the ultimate goal it would be better to pull or dig out the beech, renew the soil and plant something that will be happy at that height.  Not bow as that is too susceptible to disease and pests now so maybe lonicera nitida, sarcococca, hebe if it's not too cold there.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Ours is something like 70 years old. When we arrived it had long been neglected and we spent years grubbing out ivy and weeds, cutting back and shaping to lower the height but increase lower growth and bushyness. It's  about 8ft tall and 3-31/2ft deep now. If you take time it will recover well, but little by little is the way, not butchery!
  • mountharrymountharry Posts: 3
    Yes- just wanted to get a 3 ft hedge or thereabouts, but thought cutting lower might produce some lower shoots.  
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 605
    I have two small L nitida hedges, like them dearly, but it's reputation as a leaf machine is entirely justified. I cut them about eight times a year or they start looking vey unsightly. For that size of hedge my first thought would be yew as an evergreen option. I love beech hedges, would think twice, but if the aim is to open up the view I can see keeping it may not be the best option.
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