Hornbeam Hedging Plants

Hornbeam Hedging Plants

Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus, is an excellent tree for a hedge. Slightly cheaper than Beech, Hornbeam hedging it is also suitable for damp and shady sites that Beech won't tolerate. The two plants look very similar indeed: Hornbeam has crinkled leaves and a small wing on its seeds but, when they are grown as a hedge, it is hard to tell them apart from a small distance and they both hold their leaves through the winter.
When Should I use Beech instead of Hornbeam? If your site is sunny and your soil has good drainage but is not very rich, perhaps on the stony side, then Beech hedging should perform better than Hornbeam.
Which Size is Best for Hornbeam Hedging? Using small plants - called whips - to start with helps you to keep your hedge thick from the base and, in the long run, they will give you an excellent hedge. The largest sizes are there to create an instant screen, or to fill gaps in an old hedge. We recommend 60-80cms as the ideal size for a new hedge but, due to popular demand, we also sell bundles of 50 plants, 100-125cms tall, if you want to save money on larger plants that will give your hedge a headstart.
When do I Plant Hornbeam? Hornbeam is only available bare root for winter planting, between November and March.
When do I Clip and Prune Hornbeam? To help your hedge keep its autumn foliage during winter, give it a good trim in spring and again in late summer. If necessary, carry out heavier pruning work in winter.
How to Plant a Hornbeam Hedge: Horbeam is very hardy and will grow in any soil type, though it doesn't perform well in poorly fertile earth. Once your plants are firmly in the ground, give them a very light trim by snipping off the top bud from the end of each stem - this will encourage them to become bushier.
Looking for a bigger tree? We have Hornbeam Standards and Fastigiate Hornbeam for instant impact.