When planning a beech hedge, the number of plants per meter plays an important role. The hedge should become dense quickly, but the beech trees should not be too close together, as they will then interfere with each other's growth. How many plants do you need per meter of beech hedge?
How many beech trees should you plant per meter for a beech hedge?
For a beech hedge, depending on the size of the plants, you should plant two to four beech trees per meter when purchasing. For larger plants, two per meter is sufficient, for smaller plants it can be up to four, although some trees will have to be removed later.
This is how many beech trees you need per meter of beech hedge
The amount of plants required depends on the size of the plants during purchase. It also plays a role whether you want your hedge to become very dense and large very quickly, or whether you can take your time.
- Size of plants
- planned height of the hedge
- bare root or container beech trees
Older beech trees in the hedge should be planted at least 50 centimeters apart. This means that there are two beech trees per meter.
If the beech trees are very small, you can plant up to four per meter when planting the beech hedge. However, after a few years you will have to saw off at least every second beech tree so that there is enough space for the others.
Buy bare root or container plants
You can buy beeches for a beech hedge either as container plants or as bare-root plants. Bare root means that the beech trees are delivered without soil.
If you choose the cheaper option, namely bare-rooted, small beech trees, it will take a little longer until you have a dense hedge. You should then initially plant three to four trees per meter.
Propagate your own beech hedge
No matter how careful you are when planting the beech hedge, one or two trees can still die. You will then need a replacement beech.
A good way to grow more trees for the hedge is to propagate them. It's easy to grow beech trees yourself by cutting cuttings and growing them in the garden.
Growing from seeds only works if you have an older European beech tree nearby. Beech trees only bloom after 30 years at the earliest and only then do they develop beechnuts.
Tip
If you want to create a wide beech hedge, a little trick will help. Plant the beeches in a zigzag pattern. Such a hedge quickly becomes dense and later it is no longer possible to see that the beech trees are not next to each other.