Can you trim a beech tree?

Paul060

Hi, okay this may seem an odd question, but we have a 10 year old beech tree, 5ft tall that is becoming too wide. It is planted in a border, but is encroaching over the lawn, can it be trimmed back level with the edge.
My thoughts are no.
Beech hedging and beech trees are totally different plants, is that correct.

Dovefromabove

No they’re the same plants. 😊 

Can we see a photo of the tree to give us some idea of the options?😊 

Fairygirl

No - they're the same. You can pollard your tree, or just prune when it's a little bigger, to get a different shape   

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/shrubs

I'm just thinking - it's very small if it's ten years old. It's possibly struggling in the site it's in. Do you have a photo?

Paul060

Paul060

Apologies, its more like 7 or 8ft tall.

Silver surfer

Pic below shows a perfectly pruned mature Fagus sylvatica atropurpurea in a local garden.
So yes you can prune your young tree!

Fairygirl

No problem @Paul060. You can certainly remove some of the lower branches, which will give you a lollipop effect. 
Wait until it's dormant, and you'll be able to see the shape better, and it won't do any harm to the tree   

Paul060

Thanks, when is the best time to do this.

Dovefromabove

When the leaves have fallen (or at least gone brown and crispy) Nov/Dec/Jan is when I’d do it 😊 

Paul060

I have trimmed it, and it looks much better. Thanks.