Beeches are easy-care trees that stand out in autumn with their beautiful colored foliage. The beech tree no longer needs any care in autumn. However, this time of year is particularly suitable as a planting time for beech trees.
What should you pay attention to with a beech tree in autumn?
In autumn, the beech tree is particularly striking due to its bright yellow-orange foliage. It is the best time for planting as the trees can prepare for winter. Further care such as pruning or fertilization is not necessary in autumn, only winter protection for young beech trees is recommended.
The autumn leaves of the beech tree
One of the special features of beech trees is their foliage. It is green in summer, although the beech is also called common beech. Only copper beeches have red or red-green leaves.
In autumn the foliage turns a bright yellow-orange. The color is particularly intense in mid-November.
- Beeches are summer green
- Foliage green or red in summer
- Autumn leaves yellow-orange
- Leaves stay on the tree for a long time
For most beech species, the leaves stay on the tree all winter long. They only fall off when the new leaves emerge. Experienced gardeners simply leave the fallen leaves under the beech tree. It forms a good mulch and provides the tree with important nutrients.
Autumn is the best time to plant beech trees
If you want to plant a beech tree or create a beech hedge, you should do this in autumn. Autumn is the best time to plant beech trees. The trees then have enough time to prepare for winter.
The soil is well moist so that the roots cannot dry out. If necessary, beech trees can still be planted in spring. But then they have to be watered frequently.
Do not cut or fertilize beech trees in autumn
Unlike many other deciduous trees, beech trees are neither pruned nor fertilized in autumn. The last cut should take place at the end of July / beginning of August. There is also no more fertilization after August.
Pruning and fertilizing would cause the beech to sprout again. However, the new shoots no longer become mature enough to survive a cold snap.
Winter protection only necessary for young beech trees
You should provide young beeches with light winter protection in autumn. For older trees, this precaution is no longer absolutely necessary. However, it makes sense to cover the ground with a layer of mulch to prevent the soil from drying out.
Tip
The flowers and leaves of the beech tree are produced in summer and autumn. Beech trees only bloom when they are 20 to 30 years old. They only produce germinable seeds after they are 30 to 40 years old.
