Beech hedging advise

Ritchie

Hi folks , just a few questions if you do not mind. I have purchased 150 bare root beech trees approx 4/5ft, Im looking to plant them next week in a double staggered row. I have turned the soil over so it is loose and will allow the roots space to develop. What distance should the two rows be apart? Also is it recommended to use bone meal or a root hormone? I don't want to be out too much money having purchased the plants but at the same time want to do it correctly. I understand you can use old manure too. Appriciate you advise folks and should I need to know anything else before planting. One more thing I was thinking of planting a few copper beech randomly throughout, would this look well or better sticking to all green? Thanks again

pansyface

There's a lot of good info here

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=377

 

Steve 309

A shovelful of well-rotted manure or compost and a handful of bonemeal in each hole is a good idea.  Rooting hormone is entirely superfluous.  Spread out the roots, firm them in as you fill and water very well.

As far as spacing is concerned I'd think two staggered rows with the plants a foot or so apart would be about right, but you'll need to work out the spacing along the rows to fit the distance you have to cover.

Trim the tops off when they get to within a foot of the final height you want.

fidgetbones

I would stick to one colour. My green beech hedge has one odd colour, not really copper but a red tinge to it. It looks odd. It also comes into leaf at a different time.

Steve 309

Lots of good advice on that site Pansy

Fairygirl

I'd have thought a foot apart is too close - especially with a double row. If you visit one of the specialist hedging suppliers' sites, they'll give you the recommended spacing. I think 15" to 18" apart will be the norm for beech. It gets very sturdy and fills out quite quickly. At that height, I'd take a good bit off the tops once planted too, although I know some people disagree with that.

Steve 309

Yes.  But if you say 'a foot and a half apart' it looks funny

I helped some friends plant a hornbeam hedge and the holes were a trowel and a half apart.

Fairygirl

What size was the trowel though Steve?....

Obelixx

Remember to soak the roots in a bucket of water overnight before planting.  That way the stay hydrated and grow away faster.  Left dry they may just die.

Joe_the_Gardener

Ritchie, this might not apply in your case, but when deciding the planting line do bear in mind the width of the finished hedge, so that it doesn't grow beyond your boundary and so you've got access to cut it. So many people plant their hedges a foot inside their boundary fence/wall and in no time they're growing out across pavements/public footpaths/neighbours' gardens.

Obelixx

In Belgium there's a legal minimum planting distance from a boundary of 60cms for hedges and 2 metres for trees.   2m height maximum for a hedge.   Seems reasonable to me.