overgrown Beech hedge

[juno]

Hi, --- has anyone much experience with reducing overgrown Beech hedges, and what I could do with this one? - It had been kept at about 6' and the young couple now looking after it would like it back if possible.

 

Most books say – cut top first year, one side the following year and t'other the next, preferably with a good feed and mulch the year before you start.

 

I'm not so sure - I did a well kept but gotten too wide Beech three years ago – cut back one side maybe 15” - and its only now really filling in.

 

And the trouble with this very overgrown one is that there's little growth on the back side as it faces a dark conifer wood

 

Sorry about poor pictures – The Beech is over 20 foot. Second pic is taken from behind.

[Tom D]

Are you rtying to take it right doen to where it was before? If so you'll be looking at a whole load of brown dead conifer where it has been competing with the hedge. I'd accept the fact that it has "got away" and take it down to 12-15 foot and make something of it from there. That way you could do it all in one hit, wait till the leaves have browned off and that way it'll recover better. Remember beech produces next years buds the previous growing season so if you go at it too hard you will reduce its ability to recover quickly.

[juno]

"You'll be looking at a whole load of brown dead conifer where it has been competing with the hedge"

Good point Tom, thanks – I hadn't thought of that. So if I were to do the top as you say this winter, and if customer's willing to wait – (they want the best for its health) would it still be better, ideally, to wait another year to do the front, which is coming out a good 6' from the trunks and give a good feed and mulch next spring? I think I've read somewhere that beech make few dormant buds lower down the branch (?) How much do you think it would be safe to cut off the front?

[Tom D]

"You'll be looking at a whole load of brown dead conifer where it has been competing with the hedge"

Good point Tom, thanks – I hadn't thought of that. So if I were to do the top as you say this winter, and if customer's willing to wait – (they want the best for its health) would it still be better, ideally, to wait another year to do the front, which is coming out a good 6' from the trunks and give a good feed and mulch next spring? I think I've read somewhere that beech make few dormant buds lower down the branch (?) How much do you think it would be safe to cut off the front?

 

Personaly I'd do it all at the same time, but only take 2-3 foot at the most off the sides. Its never going to be a small hedge again.

[raafbeard]

How old is the re-growth from 6ft up?

 

I don't really think there is an issue in reducing it back to there....Leave the sides for now if you are overly worried...and just fell the conifers unless they are providing a screen.