Hornbeam hedgeis one of the noblest deciduous hedges. Hornbeam is cut very well and can be conveniently formed as a hedge. See how to plant hornbeam cuttings for a hedge, how to cut a planted hedge and, finally, how to properly care forhornbeam hedgeThis is the secret that guarantees the success of a hornbeam hedge and its beautiful appearance.
Hornbeam hedge in the gardens of Eyrignac Manor in France (so-called hornbeam alley).
As you can see, the hornbeam can be cut and shaped very well.
Common hornbeam(Carpinus betulus) is an indispensable plant for formed hedges. Its great advantage is that it develops well in shaded places, although then it becomes less dense. It does well on heavy and moist soils, and most prefers fertile, fairly moist, preferably sandy loam soils. It produces a lot of regrowth from the trunk and tolerates frequent trimming.
Good to know!
In the fall, hornbeam leaves turn yellow, then turn brown, and some of them remain dry on the branches. It is one of the few seasonal hedge plants that does not lose all its leaves for the winter. The twisted brownish-red leaves that remain on the plant throughout the winter serve as a cover.
When and how to plant a hornbeam hedge
Planting date
Hornbeam has leaves that fall for the winter ( although, as you already know, some of the leaves only dry up and still remain on the bush).For this reason, it is best to plant it in early spring or late autumn, when it is in a state of rest (i.e. the leaves will fall and those remaining on the twigs are dry). The autumn datefor planting a hornbeam hedgeis slightly better because the time to root until leaves are formed is longer than in the spring. Though hornbeam responds equally well to early spring planting.
Preparation of soil for a hornbeam hedge
Before planting seedlings, the ground underhornbeam hedgeshould be well dug, taking into account the width and depth of planting. It is best if we mark the places for planting the hedge with a string in advance, then we will be sure that the plants are planted in one straight row. It will also allow you to accurately calculate how many plants you need forhornbeam hedge , thanks to which, for example, we will not run out of seedlings for the last meter of the hedge.
Which hornbeam seedlings are the best for a hedge?
For planting, do not take small plants as hornbeams grow relatively slowly, it is best to planthornbeam seedlings60-100 cm high. Plants should be planted very densely, every 20-25 cm in a row.Hornbeam hedgealways plant in one row.
Planting of hornbeam cuttings with an exposed rootSuchhornbeam seedlingsshould be planted in damp ground in a shaded area from the time of purchase to planting. It is also recommended to trim the too large root system to 15-20 cm. It is worth remembering that the most valuable are fine and thin roots, because they are the first to start drawing water from the substrate. For plantinghornbeam seedlings for a hedgetake small batches so that the roots do not dry out in the wind, and on sunny days, the roots should be additionally protected from the sun. The seedlings should be planted at the depth where they grew in the nursery or a little deeper. It is very important to tread the soil around the shrubs firmly. A well-planted seedling should not be pulled out of the ground too easily. Trampling on the ground also improves the structure of the soil, allows you to start capillary soaking of water into the roots.
Planting hornbeam seedlings in containers
Plantinghornbeam seedlings for a hedgesold in containers is easier and more reliable, although unfortunately such seedlings are more expensive.You don't have to plant them right after you buy them, but you can keep them for up to several weeks, keeping the substrate moist. We plant seedlings in containers so that the entire root ball is sunk into the soil. If, after taking it out of the container, it turns out that the root ball has outgrown the substrate, it should be loosened and cut slightly. As a result, the seedling will accept better and develop new roots faster.
Hornbeam hedge care
Ohornbeam hedgeafter planting it should be properly cared for. Care is primarily related to proper watering, fertilizing and pruning.
Watering a hornbeam hedge
After planting, of course, the hedge should be watered abundantly. However, further irrigation is just as important and should not be underestimated. The hornbeam in a hedge grows in high density, which causes plants to compete with each other for water and light. In this case,hornbeam hedge careshould ensure the optimal amount of water for each plant.Remember that less frequent but longer and more abundant watering gives much better results. Thanks to this, the water reaches the deeper layers of the soil and irrigates the deepest roots.
A good solution is to use drip irrigation. A professional irrigation system can be installed. However, withcare of a hornbeam hedge , an ordinary hose with a blind end, in which we make holes every 30-40 cm, works well. Place such a hose between the plants and watering is ready.
Remember!Water the hornbeam hedge once a week for several hours with a weak but steady stream of water. This gives the best guarantee of optimal plant hydration.
Fertilizing a hornbeam hedge
The hornbeam should not be fertilized immediately after planting because too high a concentration of mineral s alts will adversely affect the adoption of cuttings and rooting.Hornbeam hedgeplanted in autumn, fertilize in spring and only when we notice growths.Plants planted in spring should be fertilized with a small amount of fertilizer not earlier than after 2 months.
In the first yearhornbeam hedgefertilize carefully, below the recommended dose. We provide full fertilization every spring. It is best to use a compound fertilizer of the Azofoska type. Fertilization should be repeated every 3-4 weeks from April to August. Long-acting multi-component fertilizers such as Osmocote are also good. It is enough to apply this fertilizer once a year, in spring.
Cutting a hornbeam hedge
The cutting of hornbeamplanted as a hedge is carried out several times during the growing season. The firstcutting of a hornbeam hedgeshould take place in early spring, and the next ones are carried out when the new growths start to stand out significantly from the hedge body. The last cut should be at the end of August.
Hard pruning immediately after planting is not recommended due to the slow growth of this hedge. Unless the seedlings are extremely poorly branched. Thenhornbeam hedgetrim to approx. 20 cm high.
We should also remember that cutting a hornbeam hedge should be done with sharp and clean tools to prevent any infections that may be carried by dirty and neglected cutting tools.
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Katarzyna Matuszak
