Hornbeam

bazmc35 · 22-01-2014 2:34pm #1

Hi
My hornbeam isn't doing very well planted it last year and I think the problem may be that I didn't cut it back when planting.. Can I do it now or will I wate till June to prune back. It's only 3ft now but not spreading, how much should I prune by???

keltoms05 · 22-01-2014 5:43pm

I would say its more than likely the site where its planted, whats the soil like? is it well drained? full sun?

bazmc35 · 23-01-2014 2:22am

Its heavy soil, in fully sun and garden is wet this time of year but very dry in summer, What type of fertilizer should i put on (10-10-20)??

prospect · 23-01-2014 2:50pm

To spread it needs to be cut back, I'd do it now myself.

How far apart are they planted?

bazmc35 · 23-01-2014 2:59pm

Spaced 18", how much should i prune by?? so Prune now and again in June?

looksee · 23-01-2014 3:20pm

If they were only planted last summer its a bit early to be worrying about them not spreading. Trimming them depends a bit on how big they are, but I think just taking off the last couple of inches of leading branches would be enough at the moment.

Anita B Jaynow · 23-01-2014 4:54pm

bazmc35 wrote: »

Hi
My hornbeam isn't doing very well planted it last year and I think the problem may be that I didn't cut it back when planting.. Can I do it now or will I wate till June to prune back. It's only 3ft now but not spreading, how much should I prune by???

Stick up a picture when you get a chance, they're not meant to be doing anything this time of year anyway, so they could be fine.

prospect · 24-01-2014 4:39pm

Now is the ideal time to cut it, the first winter (non growing period) after planting (Assuming you didn't plant it last November/December).

I have mine 12" apart, but I don't think 18" is necessarily to far apart.

I'd deffo top them and keep cutting them back each January/February for the next few years.

Mine are down 6 or 7 years now and I still keep them cut to the height of the top of the fence (about 4 feet).

bazmc35 · 24-01-2014 11:19pm

Thanks for the info what type of fertilizer should i use and when? this picture was taken in the summer

looksee · 25-01-2014 10:40am

Yes, I would think you need to nip the leaders out of those, (the single long stem at the top). There is plenty of potential growth lower down that would be encouraged if all the growing were not going into the top. That very tall one I would bring down to the level of the others. I personally would not feed them at the moment, but I don't believe in feeding trees and hedges so that is just my opinion.

Hornbeam

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