Propagate a beech tree yourself requires a lot of patience and some specialist knowledge. Nevertheless, propagation can be worthwhile, because home-grown deciduous trees are the pride of every hobby gardener. How to propagate beeches.
How can beech trees be successfully propagated?
Beech trees can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, moss and lowering. Sowing seeds and taking cuttings are the most common methods. Moss removal and lowering require more specialist knowledge and patience, but offer further propagation options.
What methods are there for propagating beech trees?
- Sowing seeds
- Pull cuttings
- Removing moss from beech trees
- Lower shoots
Propagate beeches from seeds
The slightly poisonous beechnuts can be found in beech forests and parks. Collect enough of these fruits. Place them in a water bath at home. Throw away any nuts that float on the water because they are not fertile.
The other fruits must either be sown outdoors straight away or placed in the refrigerator for a while. Germination inhibition is overcome by cold (stratification).
Beech seeds are sown in pots or in the desired location and covered with soil. The first beech seedlings should appear after a few months. Seedlings grown in pots can be planted out in spring.
Pulling new beech trees from cuttings
Cut some semi-woody shoots in spring or summer. Remove the bottom leaves and cut off the tip.
Treat the lower interface with rooting powder (€8.00 at Amazon) and place the cuttings in pots or in the intended location. Pots must be kept frost-free over the winter.
In spring, new buds should have formed on some shoots, indicating that the cuttings have rooted. Unfortunately, this type of propagation does not always work.
Moosing – high garden art for experts
Moosing requires some specialist knowledge and a lot of patience. This type of propagation is very suitable for particularly decorative and old beech trees that the gardener would like to preserve.
Lower shoots only in very young trees
Propagation via lowering is successful on very young trees where the young branches can be pulled down to the ground.
The branches are scratched, covered with earth and fixed. After a few months, the soil is removed and checked to see whether new roots have formed.
Tip
Hornbeams, which are often incorrectly classified as beech trees, can be propagated in a similar way to beech trees. Here too, new trees are grown from the nuts or cuttings.