You don't need to fertilize older beech hedges. The trees take care of themselves through their roots. Younger hedges, on the other hand, need occasional fertilizer. How to properly fertilize your beech hedge.
How should you fertilize a beech hedge?
Younger beech hedges should be fed once a month or with long-term fertilizer from February to July. Organic fertilizers such as compost and horn shavings are recommended. Do not fertilize from August onwards to avoid late growth and frost damage. Mulch and leaves provide additional nutrients.
How often do you have to fertilize beech hedges?
To fertilize younger beech hedges, you can either give them suitable fertilizer once a month from February to the end of July or provide them with a slow-release fertilizer at the beginning of the year.
Use predominantly organic fertilizers. Mature compost and horn shavings (€52.00 on Amazon) have also proven effective. Distribute these materials under the hedge in spring and only work them in superficially.
Make sure that you never apply artificial fertilizer directly to the leaves, buds or shoots. This causes the parts of the plant to “burn” and become dry and unsightly brown.
Do not fertilize beech hedges from August onwards
The red beech hedge has its last strong budding in June and July. Afterwards, she no longer needs as many nutrients.
So stop fertilizing from August onwards. By adding more fertilizer you will encourage the hedge to sprout again. However, this is unfavorable because the shoots no longer become hardy and freeze at low temperatures.
Even directly after cutting, beech hedges do not need any additional fertilizer. It is more important to water them generously afterwards so that they can survive the pruning better.
Mulch covers and leaves provide sufficient nutrients
Even if copper beech hedges are completely hardy, you should cover the soil under the hedge with a layer of mulch in autumn. This measure prevents the soil from drying out because it preserves the moisture in the soil. The materials also rot and release nutrients that seep into the soil.
Suitable materials for mulch blankets are:
- Half-rotted compost
- Autumn leaves (without fungi or pests)
- Lawn cutting
- Garden waste (without flowers!)
- Bark mulch
Also leave he althy, fallen leaves under the hedge. The leaves form a natural cover. As they decay, they also release many nutrients.
Tip
If the beech hedge is neglected, it may be that the soil does not contain the right nutrients. Before you buy universal fertilizer, have a soil sample tested in the laboratory. The laboratory will give you recommendations as to which fertilizer is suitable for the beech hedge.