Beech hedges should be cut twice a year. However, it is not permitted to trim a beech hedge heavily all year round. When is the best time to cut?
When should I trim my beech hedge?
The best time to cut a beech hedge is once in the winter months before budding and a second time from the end of June. Make sure it is frost-free, dry and not too sunny to ensure optimal conditions for the hedge.
Cutting beech hedges is not allowed all year round
The regulation only applies to the radical shortening or thinning of a beech hedge.
Heavy pruning is not permitted from March to September. This regulation was issued to protect birds that breed in beech hedges during this time.
When is the best time to cut beech hedges?
A heavy pruning is carried out in the winter months before budding. Old branches and branches are cut out and hedges that are too high are shortened.
The second cut will take place from the end of June. At this point, the beech hedge sprouts again and is shaped by cutting. Only the outer shoots are cut.
The right day to cut the beech hedge
In winter, the beech hedge can only be cut on a day when there is no frost. Ideally the temperatures are at least plus five degrees.
If the sun is very strong, you should avoid cutting the beech hedge that day. Otherwise the cuts will dry out too much and parts of the hedge will wither. Trim the hedge on a day that:
- frost-free
- dry
- not too sunny
is. Then the beech hedge suffers least from the cut and regenerates quickly. But it always takes some time until it is dense and green again after cutting.
Tip
After cutting a beech hedge, you should water the plants well. Adding fertilizer can also be useful for young hedges if pruning is severe. The beech trees now need a lot of strength for new growth.
