Dear All,
A beech hedge, that is normally trimmed annualy, was over trimmed
last year, losin a lot of height. I would like it recover its height as
quicly as possible. Should I leave, lightly trim it or what?
Thanks
Neil

On Thu, 5 Oct 2006 22:27:43 +0100, "Neil Smith"
wrote:

Dear All,
A beech hedge, that is normally trimmed annualy, was over trimmed
last year, losin a lot of height. I would like it recover its height as
quicly as possible. Should I leave, lightly trim it or what?
Thanks
Neil

In which season did you prune it?

Penny wrote:


Before sending your replies to posts, please check the follow-up
addressing in your replies doesn't contain more groups than intended.

The addition of such groups in the follow-up line is often started
by a particular childish moron and has caused a mess. No doubt he/she
will try to continue. Please be vigilant and help stop this nonsense.

"Neil Smith" wrote in message
...
Dear All,
A beech hedge, that is normally trimmed annualy, was over trimmed
last year, losin a lot of height. I would like it recover its height as
quicly as possible. Should I leave, lightly trim it or what?
Thanks
Neil

Hi Neil,

Give the top a light trim, to stop the top growth running away, cutting the
sides of the hedge as normal. Personally I like to prune my 200ft of beech
with secateaurs, cutting back to a sideways pointing bud. It takes a lot
longer than a hedge trimmer, but I find I get a much denser hedge. I cut
mine last weekend, and will give it another tidy up in the spring.

HTH

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

Thanks for the tip. Each leaf, or most have a bud at their base. Could you
clarify what you mean by a sideways pointing bud.
Neil
"Nick Gray" wrote in message
...

"Neil Smith" wrote in message
...
Dear All,
A beech hedge, that is normally trimmed annualy, was over trimmed
last year, losin a lot of height. I would like it recover its height as
quicly as possible. Should I leave, lightly trim it or what?
Thanks
Neil

Hi Neil,

Give the top a light trim, to stop the top growth running away, cutting
the
sides of the hedge as normal. Personally I like to prune my 200ft of beech
with secateaurs, cutting back to a sideways pointing bud. It takes a lot
longer than a hedge trimmer, but I find I get a much denser hedge. I cut
mine last weekend, and will give it another tidy up in the spring.

HTH

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

On 7/10/06 18:30, in article , "Neil
Smith" wrote:

Thanks for the tip. Each leaf, or most have a bud at their base. Could you
clarify what you mean by a sideways pointing bud.
snip

A bud pointing in the direction you want the new branch to grow - like
pruning roses.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

Because this is at the top of a tall hedge, using the secateurs could be
difficult. Given that I want to promote upward growth, should I trim what I
can by hand just below the top of each new growth?
"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 7/10/06 18:30, in article ,
"Neil
Smith" wrote:

Thanks for the tip. Each leaf, or most have a bud at their base. Could
you
clarify what you mean by a sideways pointing bud.
snip

A bud pointing in the direction you want the new branch to grow - like
pruning roses.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

"Neil Smith" wrote in message
...
Because this is at the top of a tall hedge, using the secateurs could be
difficult. Given that I want to promote upward growth, should I trim what
I
can by hand just below the top of each new growth?
"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 7/10/06 18:30, in article ,
"Neil
Smith" wrote:
SNIPPED

Hi Neil,

How tall is your hedge? If you can't reach with secateurs, do you have
access to long handled loppers and or a step ladder? Cutting the sides of
the hedge first, can help you get that little bit closer to the hedge, to
cut the top.

Although you want to promote upward growth, you also want a dense hedge, if
you leave the top, then you'll get branches (leaders) that grow upwards,
they will throw out small branches as they grow, but the top of your hedge
will end up looking quite sparse. The idea of trimming the top growth, will
encourage the tree to send out more branches from the top and lower buds,
creating a much denser hedge. It will take longer to reach your desired
height, but you'll get a much better result in the long run.

Don't get hung up on pruning to new or old growth, beech is really tough,
and doesn't really care, just prune to a sideways or upward facing bud.

HTH

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

"Nick Gray" wrote in message
...

"Neil Smith" wrote in message
...
Because this is at the top of a tall hedge, using the secateurs could be
difficult. Given that I want to promote upward growth, should I trim
what
I
can by hand just below the top of each new growth?
"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 7/10/06 18:30, in article ,
"Neil
Smith" wrote:
SNIPPED

Hi Neil,

How tall is your hedge? If you can't reach with secateurs, do you have
access to long handled loppers and or a step ladder? Cutting the sides of
the hedge first, can help you get that little bit closer to the hedge, to
cut the top.

Although you want to promote upward growth, you also want a dense hedge,
if
you leave the top, then you'll get branches (leaders) that grow upwards,
they will throw out small branches as they grow, but the top of your hedge
will end up looking quite sparse. The idea of trimming the top growth,
will
encourage the tree to send out more branches from the top and lower buds,
creating a much denser hedge. It will take longer to reach your desired
height, but you'll get a much better result in the long run.

Don't get hung up on pruning to new or old growth, beech is really tough,
and doesn't really care, just prune to a sideways or upward facing bud.

HTH

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

I know it's a bit odd to reply to my own posting, but I've thought of an
analogy. If you think of a single small beech tree (a hedge is just a line
of trees planted close together after all), it will try to grow tall as
quickly as possible. If you cut the leading branch (that is heading straight
up), the tree will send out side branches, from the top as well as the sides
of the trunk, if you then trim these, the tree will send out even more side
branches, after a short time, you'll end up with quite a dense little bush.
This is all that you are trying to acheive with the top of your hedge.

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

What you say is quite clear and logical. About 5 feet of hedge was looped
off, sadly. The top growth that has come up seems a little stunted with
abnormally small leaves.
"Nick Gray" wrote in message
...

"Nick Gray" wrote in message
...

"Neil Smith" wrote in message
...
Because this is at the top of a tall hedge, using the secateurs could
be
difficult. Given that I want to promote upward growth, should I trim
what
I
can by hand just below the top of each new growth?
"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 7/10/06 18:30, in article
,
"Neil
Smith" wrote:
SNIPPED

Hi Neil,

How tall is your hedge? If you can't reach with secateurs, do you have
access to long handled loppers and or a step ladder? Cutting the sides of
the hedge first, can help you get that little bit closer to the hedge, to
cut the top.

Although you want to promote upward growth, you also want a dense hedge,
if
you leave the top, then you'll get branches (leaders) that grow upwards,
they will throw out small branches as they grow, but the top of your
hedge
will end up looking quite sparse. The idea of trimming the top growth,
will
encourage the tree to send out more branches from the top and lower buds,
creating a much denser hedge. It will take longer to reach your desired
height, but you'll get a much better result in the long run.

Don't get hung up on pruning to new or old growth, beech is really tough,
and doesn't really care, just prune to a sideways or upward facing bud.

HTH

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

I know it's a bit odd to reply to my own posting, but I've thought of an
analogy. If you think of a single small beech tree (a hedge is just a line
of trees planted close together after all), it will try to grow tall as
quickly as possible. If you cut the leading branch (that is heading
straight
up), the tree will send out side branches, from the top as well as the
sides
of the trunk, if you then trim these, the tree will send out even more
side
branches, after a short time, you'll end up with quite a dense little
bush.
This is all that you are trying to acheive with the top of your hedge.

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

I took your advice and spent 4 hours carefully cutting the top of the hedge.
My neighbours workmen came along, afterwards and with a hedge trimmer and
tidy it up. looping another great chunk of it.
"Nick Gray" wrote in message
...

"Nick Gray" wrote in message
...

"Neil Smith" wrote in message
...
Because this is at the top of a tall hedge, using the secateurs could
be
difficult. Given that I want to promote upward growth, should I trim
what
I
can by hand just below the top of each new growth?
"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 7/10/06 18:30, in article
,
"Neil
Smith" wrote:
SNIPPED

Hi Neil,

How tall is your hedge? If you can't reach with secateurs, do you have
access to long handled loppers and or a step ladder? Cutting the sides of
the hedge first, can help you get that little bit closer to the hedge, to
cut the top.

Although you want to promote upward growth, you also want a dense hedge,
if
you leave the top, then you'll get branches (leaders) that grow upwards,
they will throw out small branches as they grow, but the top of your
hedge
will end up looking quite sparse. The idea of trimming the top growth,
will
encourage the tree to send out more branches from the top and lower buds,
creating a much denser hedge. It will take longer to reach your desired
height, but you'll get a much better result in the long run.

Don't get hung up on pruning to new or old growth, beech is really tough,
and doesn't really care, just prune to a sideways or upward facing bud.

HTH

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk

I know it's a bit odd to reply to my own posting, but I've thought of an
analogy. If you think of a single small beech tree (a hedge is just a line
of trees planted close together after all), it will try to grow tall as
quickly as possible. If you cut the leading branch (that is heading
straight
up), the tree will send out side branches, from the top as well as the
sides
of the trunk, if you then trim these, the tree will send out even more
side
branches, after a short time, you'll end up with quite a dense little
bush.
This is all that you are trying to acheive with the top of your hedge.

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk