Hornbeam growth question

[farmer rod]

I planted some hornbeam two years ago, and although they look healthy and are growing, only a couple have made any effort to grow upwards. Some of the trees almost look like a weeping variety.

 

Have I bought the wrong plants? or given time will they pick up and put on some vertical growth?

[Paul Cleaver]

look ok to me

[Eddy_t]

They look fine, they're pretty slow at growing tbf

 

 

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[farmer rod]

look ok to me

 

Paul, thanks for the reassurance, Im hoping that they will grow up in a straight stemmed form, and possibly if I prune them the right way have dense canopy with a shady mown area under. (Trouble is I know zippo about trees)

[Goaty]

On a nursery they would be caned and tied to keep straight, once up to 6ft they will hold themselves erect from then on, in the sapling years they are wishy washy and can double back on themselves, go horizontal and generally unwieldly. It is normal.

 

 

The form you see on urban planting is usually the carpinus betulus fastigata form which is more compact and uniform. Whereas yours will be plain old carpinus betulus.

Edited May 12, 2013 by Goaty
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[farmer rod]

On a nursery they would be caned and tied to keep straight, once up to 6ft they will hold themselves erect from then on, in the sapling years they are wishy washy and can double back on themselves, go horizontal and generally unwieldly. It is normal.

 

 

The form you see on urban planting is usually the carpinus betulus fastigata form which is more compact and uniform. Whereas yours will be plain old carpinus betulus.

 

The nursery thing may be the clue, I just ordered whips, as we usually do, weve put in miles of hedge, so this may turn out to be more hedgy and less woody, but still a lovely colour!

 

Thanks for the help

[woodyguy]

They look fine to me. Hornbeam aren't the quickest growing tree. If you wish to speed them up a bit then spraying off the grass for a couple of food around the base of each tree guard and mulching would help quite a bit.

[openspaceman]

look ok to me

 

Me too, you'll have to wait until their is a bit of mutual competition to make the habit more upright.

 

This is a problem with 3m spacing and tubes, the side branches get substantial before they are shaded out so often a bit of formative pruning is in order.

[farmer rod]

thanks for the replys guys, better get another load of bark round them and wait till next year!

[Paul Cleaver]

Paul, thanks for the reassurance, Im hoping that they will grow up in a straight stemmed form, and possibly if I prune them the right way have dense canopy with a shady mown area under. (Trouble is I know zippo about trees)

 

Yes that's achievable

[farmer rod]

Yes that's achievable

 

So would it be best to prune now, ie during the growing season, or wait till winter and take side branches out, or even leave it for couple of years and then have a go?