How hard can hornbeam be pruned?

[Khriss]

@Mick Dempsey   but ! This industry runs on 'a load of old blather'  ?  try to keep up  ! K

Edited July 23, 2020 by Khriss
Now son, remember it's 2Rope now, appen .

[Marc Lewis]

Thanks for all your replys and opinions. I should have said previously that the tree is semi mature.

[essential]

8 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

He’s just looking for advice Khriss. 
 

I have opined before about how industry bodies don’t offer any sort of guidance on how various trees react to pruning, just some old blather about ‘doing as little as possible’ Or ‘felling and removing with a more suitable species‘

 

 

Or the biggest laugh, referring to BS3998.

 

 

 

Well done  mick, a hornbeam will tolerate  getting hit hard 

 

[Boo Who?]

Are they common hornbeam or fasigiate trees you are referring to, as reducing them will be two very different jobs.
If they are common trees that are semi mature then reducing to a good strong growth point will be best as you should be able to retain the tree looking like a natural grown tree just smaller than it is. I personally wouldn’t go too hard as it will look like a hat rack and most likely respond by Pom-poming on the cut ends.
If they are fastigate trees good luck!
Thinning these out is a good option first and then work on reshaping/taming it - I believe these trees only have a limited life span though, as they get so big and dense and aren’t maintained from a young age.

[Marc Lewis]

Thats the problem, they've not been maintained from a young age and it will look like a hat rack to a cetain extent which i have told the client but he wants the space and light more than a nice looking tree which is fair enough. It is only a very small garden. I don't know what type they are, did not realise there are 2 types, i guess common.

[Vedhoggar]

If very small garden and client is wanting space and light then would it not be better to remove both trees and replace with either small tree/s or bushes, alternatively prune one this year see how it responds and if the client is happy with the result do the other but sounds like there’s going to be an ongoing maintenance cost if space and light required and trees retained.

Edited July 24, 2020 by Vedhoggar

[Marc Lewis]

If very small garden and client is wanting space and light then would it not be better to remove both trees and replace with either small tree/s or bushes, alternatively prune one this year see how it responds and if the client is happy with the result do the other but sounds like there’s going to be an ongoing maintenance cost if space and light required and trees retained.

I agree about replacing and i think that would be the best option and did suggest, but you know how it goes....
There is a 6' fence there also[emoji848]

[Boo Who?]

First pic is fastigate, second would be common/ natural open grown.
Very different trees, hence why I thought I’d ask which it was...

[Khriss]

Top Hornbeam  - thin it.  Slows growth a bit.  Bottom Hornbeam - good crown lift n tickle top down a bit - bring in over extended main lateral branches. K  (  100 quid versus 300 quid  nice saturday morning job ) K

[Mesterh]

Just be certain that it is a hornbeam and not a beech!