Leggy beech hedge

samannekelly

My husband planted a row of bare root beech hedging two years ago but has done nothing with it since. It's now straggly, leggy and rather sad. It's growing and healthy, just looks nothing like a hedge! Is there anything I can do to encourage something more hedge like? 

Obelixx

Trim it back by about a third of its height then give it a generous handful of slow release fertiliser per square metre.   This will encourage it to bush out down below.   Trimming side shoots back to a regular length, even if it means just pinching out the tips, will also encourage it to bush out and thicken up.

samannekelly

Thanks for the reply. Csn I ask, can this be done now (in late spring) or do I need to wait until winter?

Obelixx

Now is fine.  Still time for it to react by thickening up but don't leave it any longer.