Beech Hedge Clipping

megadodge

I have a beech hedge in my garden. Only four years planted, but it's coming along well and needs a pruning/clipping. Is there any time this should be avoided or can I just snip away right now?

Gautama

August for beech.

tampopo

megadodge wrote: »

I have a beech hedge in my garden. Only four years planted, but it's coming along well and needs a pruning/clipping. Is there any time this should be avoided or can I just snip away right now?

I would say right now. I've done half mine already.

megadodge

megadodge wrote: »

I have a beech hedge in my garden. Only four years planted, but it's coming along well and needs a pruning/clipping. Is there any time this should be avoided or can I just snip away right now?

Now is fine

km79

Did mine at weekend

Gautama

megadodge wrote: »

I have a beech hedge in my garden. Only four years planted, but it's coming along well and needs a pruning/clipping. Is there any time this should be avoided or can I just snip away right now?

To elaborate if I may, a hedge like beech should be clipped in such a way as to promote growth in the desired fashion.
Hand clipping (ie with a secateurs) should be done in years two, three and four after planting.
A great book with information on this is:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1845337794/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1468918518&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=pruning+and+training&dpPl=1&dpID=51rscJHAc3L&ref=plSrch
Many libraries stock it.

The RHS website is also a great resource. For beech:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=83

Oldtree

I hand clip mine with a sacatures mid winter and its 15 years old now

megadodge

Thanks for all the answers.

I think I'll leave it for another few weeks.