A Guide to Beech Hedging

Beech hedges are one of the most popular choices for the Irish Gardener. They are moderately fast-growing, semi-evergreen and very hardy. They are also a cost-effective option for garden hedging. They will do well in most soils but don’t like to sit in water-logged areas.

Beech Hedge Plants are available as Green Beech or Copper Beech. Both are brown in Winter, but Green or a Dark Purple Colour in Summer Months.

Ready to start planting? Shop Green Beech Hedging Plants from Cullen Nurseries, available in a range of sizes with nationwide delivery.

When to plant Beech Hedge Plants

Bareroot Green beech hedge plants are planted when they are dormant, during the Bare root season, which runs from November to April in Ireland.

Spacing Beech Hedge Plants

There are often a few factors to consider when planting Beech Hedge plants.

If planting a new hedge we recommend a smaller plant, usually 2-3ft tall at a spacing of 3 per metre in a single row so 13 inches apart.

You could also choose to plant 5 plants per metre in a staggered double row, leaving 9 inches between the rows and 13  inches between the plants in the rows.

A staggered row will give a more dense hedge starting off but a single row will still provide an excellent hedge in time.

Before you Start:

With all planting projects, to make the task a little less daunting and to ensure success, let’s start with the basics.

Measure the area and calculate the number of plants needed as per the above guidelines.

Weeds and grass are competing for nutrients, therefore clear away weeds, and grass. It also makes planting easier.

You could always use a line mark to mark out a straight line where the plants are going. If planting a double row, mark the next line 9 inches out from the first line.

Here’s a little tip, use a long piece or timber or even a bamboo cane, and mark increments of 13 inches, 18 inches or 1 metre apart on the guide with brightly coloured tape or even a marker. This can be used as a guide to ensure even spacing between plants.

How to Plant Beech Hedge Plants

• If Using a spade, dig a sod out of the ground, turn it over and chop into it, till up the soil well. This soil is going back around the roots and if it is well tilled it makes it easier for the roots to spread out into the soil and grow.
• Dig the hole slightly wider and deeper than the roots of the plant, about 9 inches, but be guided by the size of the root system. Loosen the soil around the edges and toil up the soil that is in the hole.
• At this point, you could add some Organic Chicken Manure pellets and work into the soil. These pellets break down over time and release essential nutrients into the soil that can be taken up by the plant.
• Place the plant in the hole and check the depth. Look for the collar – the mark on the plant above the roots where it originally started to grow above the ground.
• This should be level with the top of the soil. If your Beech Hedge plant is planted too deep, the stem may rot down and therefore there will be no channel for nutrients to travel from the roots; and if planted too shallow the roots above the ground will die.
• Hold the plant upright and gently push back the soil, pressing it down onto the roots until firm in the ground.
• Don’t compact the soil as this will stop water and air circulation, but make sure your laurel hedge plant is secure.
• Use your homemade measure guide to move on to the next hole and repeat until finished.
• Hedging plants do not require stakes and ties.

Planting Copper Beech Hedge Plants

• Copper Beech Hedge plants are a more expensive option.
• They are planted with the same method as above
• You could always mix some Copper Beech Hedge plants into a Green Beech Hedge to add depth and colour in the Summer months.
• There is no hard and fast rule regarding spacing or a pattern. Sometimes a random planting scheme can look more natural.

Planting Bigger Beech Hedge Plants

• Larger bushy 5-6ft Beech Hedge plants can be planted 18 inches apart of 2 per metre.
• These large bushy plants provide instant screening.
• They are often used to fill gaps in existing hedges.
• The holes for these plants may need to be larger as the root system is very fibrous and large.

How Far Apart Should You Plant Beech Hedging?

For a standard Beech hedge, we recommend planting approximately 3 Beech plants per metre in a single row. This works out at roughly one plant every 33cm (13 inches).

If you want to establish a thicker hedge, Beech can be planted in a staggered double row using approximately 5 plants per metre. Space the plants alternately between the two rows rather than planting them directly opposite each other.

• Single row: 3 plants per metre
• Staggered double row: 5 plants per metre

A double row requires more plants initially but will develop into a denser hedge as the plants establish and fill out.

A Few Tips for the Aftercare of a New Beech Hedge

• Be mindful that the first year after planting is always the slowest in terms of growth. The growth rate increases once the plants have bedded in.
• With the changing seasons and the hotter Summers plants will need watering, especially in the first Summer after planting.
• All newly planted hedges are thirsty and will benefit from consistent watering in the first Summer after planting.
• It is important and very beneficial to Keep your newly planted hedge clean of weeds.
• Weeds are competition for nutrients.
• A Layer of bark mulch is a great sustainable way of keeping weeds down.
• The bark mulch provides a barrier against weeds whilst also keeping the moisture in at the root.

• For the first few months after planting, keep plants well walked in, especially after windy conditions.

​Things to look out for:

• Beech Hedge plant leaves can be susceptible to woolly aphids which cause the leaves to curl downwards.
• These are harmless pests and can be treated easily enough.
• You can wash down the underside of the leaf to wash off the woolly aphid or spray the plants with Rose Clear.
• Healthy well-fed plants are much less susceptible to pests and disease.
• We recommend a regular feed with organic chicken manure pellets to keep your beech hedge plants healthy and strong.

When Is the Best Time to Plant Beech Hedging?

Bare-root Beech hedging is normally planted from November through to March, while the plants are dormant. This is the traditional bare-root planting season in Ireland and is generally the most cost-effective time to establish a new Beech hedge, particularly when planting a longer boundary.

Bare-root plants should be planted as soon as practical after delivery. Until you’re ready to plant, keep the roots protected from wind and drying out.

Potted Beech plants can be planted outside the bare-root season, provided the ground is suitable. If planting during warmer or drier weather, pay particular attention to watering while the plants establish.

A Practical Step-by-Step Guide 

To ensure success for your Beech hedge plants and to learn more about planting techniques you can view our Bare Root Planting Tutorial.

Beech vs Hornbeam Hedging: Which Should You Choose?

Beech and Hornbeam are both excellent choices for creating a traditional deciduous hedge and can look quite similar, particularly during the growing season. The biggest consideration when choosing between them is often the planting site.

Green Beech generally performs best in fertile, reasonably well-drained soil. When regularly trimmed as a hedge, it will often retain its copper-brown leaves through much of the winter, providing useful screening before fresh green foliage appears in spring.

Hornbeam is generally more tolerant of heavier, wetter and less well-drained ground. For a site where Beech may struggle because of damp soil, Hornbeam can therefore be the better choice.

• Choose Beech: for well-drained soil and excellent winter leaf retention.
• Choose Hornbeam: for heavier or damper ground where drainage is more challenging.

If your site has reasonably well-drained soil, Green Beech is an excellent choice for a dense, attractive garden hedge. For consistently heavier or wetter ground, consider Hornbeam Hedging Plants instead.

To learn more about Maintaining your Garden Hedges you can view our Garden Hedge Maintenance Blog. or view our video tutorial on Pruning your Green Beech Hedge

Beech Hedging FAQs

How many Beech hedging plants do I need per metre?

For a standard single-row hedge, plant approximately 3 Beech plants per metre. For a thicker staggered double row, use approximately 5 plants per metre.

When is the best time to plant bare-root Beech hedging?

Bare-root Beech hedging is normally planted from November through to March while the plants are dormant. Potted Beech can be planted at other times of the year when ground and weather conditions are suitable.

How fast does a Beech hedge grow?

Once established in suitable conditions, Green Beech can typically produce around 1-2ft of growth per year. Growth may be slower during the first year or two while the plants establish their root systems.

Is Beech hedging evergreen?

No. Beech is deciduous, but a regularly trimmed Beech hedge will often retain much of its copper-brown foliage throughout winter. These old leaves are pushed off when fresh green growth appears in spring.

Does Beech hedging grow in shade?

Beech hedging grows well in full sun or light shade. Soil condition and drainage are also important, with Beech generally preferring reasonably well-drained ground.

Can Beech hedging grow in wet ground?

Beech does not particularly like consistently wet or poorly drained soil. On heavier or damper sites, Hornbeam hedging is often a better choice.

When should I prune a Beech hedge?

Young Beech hedging can be lightly pruned to encourage branching and dense growth. Once established, regular trimming will help maintain the required height and shape. Always check for active bird nests before carrying out hedge maintenance.

Buy Green Beech Hedging Plants here