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Kiltie
Original Poster
3,757 posts
115 months
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I have a beech hedge between us and our neighbours which is needing a bit of attention. It's probably two and a bit years since it's seen any secateur action. Royal Horticultural Society advises " trimming" in August but even though we're past that, I think it's condition is also beyond maintenance type " trimming". They also advise cutting back hard in February while still dormant to renovate one that's completely gone - but I don't think I'm there yet. Any thoughts? Some pics (first one is neighbour's side).      Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Eric 
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mrsshpub
218 posts
53 months
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The RHS site says:
"To renovate an overgrown beech hedge, cut it back hard in February while still dormant. If the height needs reducing by 50 percent or more, then stagger pruning over two seasons rather than doing it all at once. If the sides need drastic reduction, then do one side and the top in the first year, leaving the other side to the second year. Mulch and feed after renovation, to encourage regrowth."
I read that as saying if the height needs reducing by less than 50%, it's OK to cut back both sides & the top in one go (in February), rather than staggering the pruning over 2 years.
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astroarcadia
888 posts
69 months
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That hedge has great potential, a lovely mature beech hedge that just needs some attention.
Dig/weed out anything not beech and get the hedge trimmer out tomorrow.
You won't kill it.
Update when it's done.
More pics of the dog?
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0a
8,452 posts
63 months
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Beech is tough, I'd trim it now (though it will look a little bare until you get proper growth in spring).
The more conservative gardener would wait until February time as (as above) it won't start growing and get hit by a frost - it's already been down to 2 degrees here, so there is a risk it might get hit. However this will probably only damage the new growth if it happens, there's plenty more energy in those plants to resprout in the spring in any case.
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Chrisgr31
7,425 posts
124 months
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astroarcadia said: More pics of the dog? Dog? I was going to ask why he had a deer lying on his grass!
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Kneetrembler
1,557 posts
71 months
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I would cut it twice as I do my beech hedge, my hedge is 8' high and about 4' thick, it was cut heavily in June and I will cut it again once it has died back for this year.
Next year the same again as when it is cut in June/July it tidies up the growth for the summer period and keeps it looking good for much longer
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thetapeworm
4,717 posts
108 months
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I had an 8' beech hedge and took it down to half that in one go in April, it seems happy enough and has filled out again nicely.
This was just before the leaves appeared and I stabbed myself in the eye with one of the buds, still hurts now, wear goggles.
Mine was well established and I'd just trimmed it for years, a lot of it needed a saw to cut it back so I took it down a foot more than I actually want it to be so it can hide the stumps with new growth. Apparently you just take off the top bud once it gets to your desired height.
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Kiltie
Original Poster
3,757 posts
115 months
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Thanks folks - food for thought indeed. Chrisgr31 said: astroarcadia said: More pics of the dog? Dog? I was going to ask why he had a deer lying on his grass!    Meg is a rescue greyhound. She's been with us for just over five years and we think she's around eleven years old. Cheers, Eric
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bga
7,134 posts
120 months
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We have 90 odd feet of Beech hedge running alongside one of our boundaries & it gets chopped back (10-20% at a time) every few months during the summer. It has never appeared to cause any problems.
I wish the b'stard 10 foot Laurel at the back of the garden was as easy to look after!
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furtive
2,943 posts
148 months
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Chrisgr31 said: Dog? I was going to ask why he had a deer lying on his grass! Deer? I thought it was a kangaroo!
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Simpo Two
54,274 posts
134 months
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I thought deer, then possibly llama!
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astroarcadia
888 posts
69 months
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Lovely dog.
Lovely chaise longue.
Meg Matches the curtains!
Not sure about the stained glass.
Update please. I await pics of your new hedge???
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