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Too late to prune beech hedge ?

  • 12-09-2015 11:29PM
    #1
    Citizenpain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,070 ✭✭✭


    Is it too late in the year to prune a beech hedge ?
    It's 2.5 years old and up to now I've cut the leaders and longer side shoots back in winter when dormant ..


Comments

  • #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,225 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Citizenpain wrote: »
    Is it too late in the year to prune a beech hedge ?
    It's 2.5 years old and up to now I've cut the leaders and longer side shoots back in winter when dormant ..

    No it's not too late. Did mine yesterday


  • #3
    tampopo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,357 ✭✭✭tampopo


    I was recommended to cut at the height of summer.
    I've a few short bits to trim from last year...


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,225 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    tampopo wrote: »
    I was recommended to cut at the height of summer.
    I've a few short bits to trim from last year...

    Yeah August is the best time. But if you haven't pruned it then you can do it now lightly.


  • #5
    creedp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,217 ✭✭✭creedp


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    Yeah August is the best time. But if you haven't pruned it then you can do it now lightly.

    I thought it was best to prune in mid winter when plants are dormant. That's what I did last year and was planning to do this again this year. Is this the wrong approach?


  • #6
    KAGY
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭KAGY


    That's what I heard too. Shape your hedge in winter and just keep it trim with light cutting during summer. I was hoping to cut back one side of my hornbeam hedge this year so I'd be interested in other's thoughts


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  • #7
    jester77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    I haven't pruned yet, my hedge is about 1.5 year old. It's quite thin and the bushes haven't met each other yet (2-3 feet apart), but it has had quite a bit of upwards growth. Some a lot more than others. Should I just trim the tops so that they are even height and just leave it at that?


  • #8
    Citizenpain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,070 ✭✭✭Citizenpain


    jester77 wrote: »
    I haven't pruned yet, my hedge is about 1.5 year old. It's quite thin and the bushes haven't met each other yet (2-3 feet apart), but it has had quite a bit of upwards growth. Some a lot more than others. Should I just trim the tops so that they are even height and just leave it at that?

    If it's only 1 year old , cut back the leaders in winter , and longer side branches

    Cutting in summer is really only to encourage more leaf growth ,,, you can do that from year 3


  • #9
    jester77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    Citizenpain wrote: »
    If it's only 1 year old , cut back the leaders in winter , and longer side branches

    Cutting in summer is really only to encourage more leaf growth ,,, you can do that from year 3

    When in Winter is a good time for this?


  • #10
    Citizenpain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,070 ✭✭✭Citizenpain


    jester77 wrote: »
    When in Winter is a good time for this?

    Doesn't really matter . Mine are are 3 years old and I usually cut them in Feb


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