Buy common hornbeam hedging Carpinus betulus

Carpinus betulus - Hornbeam hedging

common hornbeam hedging

With vivid green catkins in March, followed by clusters of green fruit, and toothed mid-green leaves turning orange and gold in autumn, hornbeam is an excellent native tree for a large garden. Pyramidal in shape if left unclipped, it can tolerate wet, clay soils and responds well to pruning, which also makes it ideal for training as a formal hedge.

Our bare root plants offer a low cost way to create a hedge, but they only become available when fully dormant (typically from November to early April). These plants have a known seed provenance, and have been raised in a nursery bed for one year, then grown on in rich British soil. Bare root plants under 1m in height are 2 years old, while those over 1m, have had an extra year in the ground before being lifted, so will be 3 years old. Having developed a healthy, fibrous root system, the plants will be raring to root system, the plants will be raring to go by the time they reach you.

To find out more about how to plant a hedge, click here

How to care for Carpinus betulus:

Plant bare root hornbeam hedging during the dormant season between late autumn and early spring, ideally in well-drained, fertile soil. Before planting, improve poor soil by adding well-rotted compost or manure, and remove weeds. Set the plants at the same depth they were growing previously, spacing them around 30-45cm (12-18in) apart for a single row or staggered in a double row. Firm in well and water thoroughly.

Keep the soil moist during dry spells in the first year and apply a mulch in spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Once established, hornbeam is low maintenance and copes well with clipping. Prune in late summer to maintain a neat, dense shape or cut back harder in winter if needed to reduce size or encourage thicker growth.

Flowering period:

Eventual height:

10m

Eventual spread:

Position:

Full sun / light shade

Rate of growth:

Average

Soil:

Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

Hardiness:

Fully hardy

This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.