Beech hedging (fagus sylvatica)

10_66

I have a beech hedge that now has a gap in it (had to have a tree cut down that was amongst it) and I could do with a couple of beech hedging plants. Trouble is I live in a small market town and my local nursery doesn't have any. Does anyone know of an online nursery that provides good quality plants? I've only tried buying shrubs online once before (Crocus) and the quality of the shrub was not good (in fact I had to return it). I've searched on Google and hundreds (nay, thousands) come up, but I just wondered if anyone had any good experiences from any in particular.

dogstarheaven

just bought a pack of (prob 5/6 twigs) of hazel from Aldi the other day. I'm not sure of the price, it's prob. less than £3 and this is to create a little hazel coppice that i'll plant on my lotti. with the gap that you're trying to fill, i'm sure the young beech i saw there will 'take' v well. it's always best to buy plants young as their more chance of them establishing themselves than bigger specimens.

10_66

dogstarheaven wrote: »

...it's always best to buy plants young as their more chance of them establishing themselves than bigger specimens.

That's interesting, thanks. I've just been speaking to someone who supplies beech hedge plants and I was going to buy a couple of their 4 year old plant because they were bushier, but from what you're saying, that might not be the best option then?

dogstarheaven

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/organic_nativehedge1.shtml here's a little guide

Mojisola

10_66 wrote: »

That's interesting, thanks. I've just been speaking to someone who supplies beech hedge plants and I was going to buy a couple of their 4 year old plant because they were bushier, but from what you're saying, that might not be the best option then?

If I was planting a hedge from scratch, I would always go for whips. They will be cheap, establish well and will grow quickly. You also have control over the early pruning so you can make sure they are bushy right from the ground up.

If I needed to fill a gap in an established hedge, I would probably go for a couple of larger plants, especially if they look good. Prepare the ground well and look after them, particularly by watering regularly, for their first year.

10_66

Thank you both very much for your help and advice.

fwor

I've used Buckingham Nurseries twice now for mail order beech whips, and I've been happy both times.

I had a fairly high failure rate the first time, but that's probably because of a very difficult Spring this year for newly planted whips - and they were very good about replacements for the failed ones.

dogstarheaven

best to plant now whilst the soils is moist, that way you'll have higher success rate.