What is Beech Hedging?
Beech, Fagus sylvatica, is one of the best loved formal hedging plants in the UK, and it also makes a wonderful stock proof, livestock friendly hedge for enclosing stables and studs, often planted on top of bunds and traditional Devon banks.
It is not evergreen, but a clipped beech hedge will hold onto its Autumn leaves through most of the winter, giving you privacy and interest almost year round.
Copper / Purple Beech is more dramatic, a bit more expensive and probably adds more value.
Green Beech is an easier backdrop for most flower beds, and so more versatile.
• Uses: Formal and stock-friendly hedges from 100cm upwards.
• Good Points: Native, holds leaves in winter, clips beautifully.
• Position: Anywhere with good drainage and light.
We also sell Green & Purple Beech trees in standard sizes.
How many Beech hedge plants do I need?
The planting density for your Beech hedge depends on the purpose:
- For a normal garden boundary hedge, plant at 3 plants per metre (every 33cm) in a single row.
- A stock-proof country hedge requires 2 staggered single rows (i.e. start one row 16.5cm after the other), with 40cm between rows. That works out at 6 plants per metre in total.
- An interior hedge for purely decorative purposes can be planted at 2 plants per metre (every 50cm) in a single row.
What size Beech hedge plants should I buy?
- If you are not in a hurry to get a full sized beech hedge, we recommend starting with smaller sizes: up to 60cm tall.
- If you are in a hurry and need instant impact, or are filling gaps in an existing hedge, then of course pick the biggest size that fits your budget.
Smaller plants are cheaper, easier to plant, and tend to establish better because they are dug up with most of their roots intact.
You can also clip them attentively and ensure a very bushy plant from the base up.
If you still aren't sure, then 60/80cm tall is considered the ideal compromise between price, size, and waiting time until you get a mature hedge.
Your mail order beech hedge plants are delivered by next working day courier.
If there is anything wrong with your plants when they arrive, Contact Us within 5 working days, and our friendly support team will sort it out.
All bareroot plants are covered by our Refund Guarantee, so you can give them a whirl with complete confidence.