Hornbeams are fast-growing trees, but they do not grow very tall compared to other trees. In return they get a sprawling crown. If you want to grow a hornbeam as a single tree in the garden, you should take the future size into account.
How tall can a hornbeam tree get?
A hornbeam can reach a height of up to 25-30 meters without pruning. However, the desired height can be individually determined by regular pruning, even if it should only be 70 centimeters high.
This is how high a hornbeam tree gets without cutting
If you leave a hornbeam to its own devices without cutting it back, it will grow up to a maximum of 25 meters in height.
The growth is quite rapid. The hornbeam grows between 30 and 40 centimeters per year.
Desired height of the hornbeam by pruning
If you have little space in the garden or are growing the hornbeam as a hedge, you need to cut the hornbeam regularly so that it does not grow to its full height.
How high you leave the hornbeam is up to you. You can also grow hornbeam hedges to a height of just 70 centimeters if you like.
Short the height of hornbeams
If the hornbeam has become too tall, you will need at least a saw (€31.00 on Amazon) to cut it down. The best time for this pruning is early spring. A frost-free day in February is favorable.
You can simply cut the trunk of the hornbeam. The tree sprouts again quite quickly.
But remember that the hornbeam grows quickly. If you want a final height of two meters, cut the tree back to 1.50 meters. Thanks to the new growth, the hornbeam quickly reaches the desired height.
Underplanting tall trees
In the wild, hornbeams often grow in the shade of larger trees. They shade their neighbors' trunks and prevent them from suffering from excessive sunlight.
Hornbeams can tolerate a lot of shade themselves because the treetops of neighboring trees block out the light. The hornbeam still tries to align itself with the light. That's why you often find hornbeams with very crooked trunks in the forest or on field edges.
Tip
A hornbeam that you want to regularly trim into shape should not be allowed to grow too tall. Not only does it take up a lot of space. Care is also more difficult because you need a ladder or even scaffolding to cut.