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Beech is very shallow rooted in the first couple of years after planting.

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12" to 24" per year.

Growth is moderate to quick-growing at 30-60cm a year.Oct 8, 2021

Beech trees

Common beech (Fagus sylvatica) can grow to a height of 25m (80ft) and spread of 15m (50ft), so check there is space. Often grown in a woodland, beech is also an impressive tree in a very large garden or avenue.

Fagus sylvatica can grow in full sun, semi-shade and shade exposure. They resist cold and frost very well. The soil should be well drained, light and not contain too much organic matter. Water frequently, waiting for the substrate surface to dry (the shallow 4-5 cm).

It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Plantation grown trees can suffer from beech bark disease, resulting from the combination of a sap-sucking scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) and canker fungus (Nectria coccinea). Severe infestations can kill affected trees. It is also very vulnerable to bark stripping by grey squirrels.

Beech hedge is quite slow-growing, and although it can reach heights in excess of 12 metres in height, it would take several decades to achieve such extremes. It is a sturdy plant that can be shaped into medium height hedges – 6 to 9 feet – within a few years and is hardy enough to survive moderate climates.

Beech, Fagus sylvatica and Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus, are unrelated but very similar looking trees when they are grown as a hedge. Hornbeam is the cheaper of the two, but you should also consider these points: Beech is the most popular due to its beautiful leaves.

An established Beech hedge has an average growth rate of around 30-60cm per year but reaches a maximum of 5m plus once mature. This is an average-fast rate of growth compared to other plants.

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12" to 24" per year.

Beech hedges are often regarded as semi-evergreen hedge plants as, when lightly pruned in August, the leaves can remain on the branches for the majority of the winter.

We are often asked this question – from a horticultural point of view the very best time to plant almost all Beech hedge plants (especially bare roots and rootballs) is in late Autumn or early Winter.

Beech trees are hardy throughout New England. Purchase trees from a local nursery. Plant from spring to early fall in well-drained, slightly acidic, moist soil. Beech trees don't grow well on wet sites.

Soil Type/Habitat: Beech grows best on well drained, dry soils. Heavy clay soils must be avoided.

The European beech grows to a height of 50–60' and a spread of 35–45' at maturity.

Age. Beech may live for 350 years (if managed as a pollard), although 250 may be more typical on many sites. On upland sites and as pollards beech may be 400 years old. Beech are ancient from 225 years onwards, although many have ancient characteristics from around 175 years.

Frost damage. The new tender Spring growths of Beech hedges can be severely damaged by late Spring frosts that occur after the leaves have emerged. As Beech is quite late to come into leaf this may not be a common occurrence and a frost of this nature is likely to damage other susceptible trees and shrubs as well.

• T. Houston Durrant, D. de Rigo, G. Caudullo Fagus sylvatica L., or European beech, is one of the most important and widespread broadleaved trees in Europe. It is a large deciduous tree that can maintain its high growth rate until late maturity.

• If you have the space for it, the European beech will provide you with unmatched year-round beauty — shimmering green leaves unfurling in the spring, dense shade in the summer, striking autumn foliage, and a pleasing winter silhouette. The european beech can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 4–7.

• It has a typical life span of around 150-300 years, and reproduces very late (40-50 years old). Fruiting normally occurs every 5 to 8 years. Its seed production is characterised by irregular mast years (when a very heavy crop is produced), usually following hot summers of the previous year.

Weeping Beech will grow to be about 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 50 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines.

European Beech // Fagus sylvatica. "A moderately hard, straight-grained, even-textured wood with great strength properties. Works well with hand and machine tools."

The copper beech can have pests and bark disease (beech canker and grey mould being two examples). Grass won't grow well underneath these trees and they tend to sucker. Its fruits, which drop onto the ground, can get a little messy for those who like a pristine lawn.

The weeping beech is characterized by its shape with sweeping, pendulous branches. ... Smaller than the common beech, the tree can reach a height of up to 25 metres (82 ft) and tends to be wider than high. Leaves of the weeping beech are broad, flat, simple and not lobed. They have smooth margins and alternate.

Tips. Beech trees can develop a lush, dense canopy, shielding your backyard from harsh sunlight and casting ample shade. While the beech tree is a slow grower, its longevity and sturdiness will outweigh the inconvenience of waiting for it to flourish.Jun 11, 2021

They need the right conditions. Beech trees can grow in anything from full sun to part shade, according to Neese, and they do best in moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soil. They'll adapt to variations on this, but the soil needs to be well-draining in order for them to thrive.Feb 11, 2021

Growth is moderate to quick-growing at 30-60cm a year.Oct 8, 2021

Plant from spring to early fall in well-drained, slightly acidic, moist soil. Beech trees don't grow well on wet sites. They also have shallow roots, so plant where mowers and other vehicles won't be driving over the root system. Space trees 40 to 50 feet apart.

• What is European Beech used for? European beech is used in furniture, cabinets, boat building, hardwood flooring, butcher blocks, tools, and other interior furnishings , as well as for turnings, musical instruments, toys, kitchenware, and carvings . It also has excellent bending capabilities and can be used in steam bending.

• Historically, Beech Trees grows native in England south of a line from the Wash to the Severn; elsewhere it was always originally planted, although it now grows wild throughout. Although beech trees grow well on chalk, windbreaks of mature beech can be seen growing high in the Derbyshire Peak District and in lowland river valleys.

• Beech is a deciduous tree that makes an excellent formal garden hedge. It has fresh green leaves in early spring and although it is deciduous (i.e. not evergreen), it often keeps the golden-brown leaves in the winter months providing some screening.

• The most common types of beech trees are the American beech tree (Fagus grandifolia) and the European beech tree (Fagus sylvatica). Beech trees are easy-care, versatile trees that thrive in various conditions. Native to temperate climates in North America and Europe, beech trees grow in rich, fertile soil with excellent drainage.

The European beech has been described by many experts as the finest specimen tree available. It will provide you with unmatched year-round beauty — shimmering green leaves unfurling in the spring, dense shade in the summer, striking autumn foliage, and a pleasing winter silhouette.

The weeping variety is cultivated and does not occur in forests. The weeping beech is a variety of the European beech, Fagus sylvatica, classified by Linnaeus in 1753. It is a dominant tree in much of European forests; in fact, the species name “sylvatica” comes from the Latin for “forest.”

There are two main forms of weeping beech. One has a broad crown, with spreading main branches and drooping side branches – a graceful form. Other trees have a tall central trunk, with main branches growing out horizontally, and then drooping dramatically.

Natural forms of the Beech Tree are wonderful additions to a woodland area, and beautiful lawn specimens too. They need room, as mature trees can be 60 to 80 feet tall and almost as wide, so choose a planting spot carefully. Most weeping forms too will cover large areas in time, so give them plenty of room.