What's remains to be done in the yard? Not quite. If you wish your hedge of hornbeam to be capable of acting as a visual screen throughout the winter months, but more so during summer, it is best to plant it between mid-October between mid-October and mid-November. The young plants are able to grow hairy roots prior to when the winter season begins. If spring does come around again the plants that have already been established will be in a position to gain an edge when it comes to growing.
Simple beauty
Hornbeam hedges are thought to be extremely durable and low maintenance, however, this doesn't diminish its appeal. In the autumn the hornbeam hedge is with a bright yellow, and its vibrant green color will bring joy to your garden in the summer and spring. Hornbeams can grow upwards of 25 meters in height. However, the majority of amateur gardeners are attracted to hornbeams as hedges that are simple to maintain. After years of careful treatment, a hedge made of hornbeams can grow to four meters and its dense growth makes it a great privacy fence in your yard. Hornbeam hedges can be used to build arches over entrances and paths. Even in winter , the hedge doesn't lose its leaves completely which means that the dry leaves can be used as a privacy screening all year long. This is advantageous for wildlife because non-migratory songbirds can find refuge within the older growth throughout winter, and shield themselves from the cold winds. Since every hedge gives plenty of space to birds to nest, nesting birds are able to discover a variety of food too.
Finding the perfect spot
Picking a place for your hornbeam will be the moment you realize their flexibility and the ease to care for. To ensure it has the ideal conditions for healthy development, it is recommended to plant it on a sunny or semi-shaded area, but Hornbeams can develop quite fully even in areas of shade. The soil must be moderately acidic or slightly alkaline to allow hornbeams develop. The ideal soil has an emerald-like texture. Hornbeams are able to take root and thrive in clay or sand soils as long as they supply the plant with sufficient water and nutrients.
Correct plant spacing
To make a hornbeam hedge serve as a privacy screening it is crucial to place the plants at in a proper distance from one another. If you are planting plants that are 150-125 cm and those with root balls, it is recommended to leave 60 centimeters between the plants. For smaller plants less than 150-125 cm, and that do not have root ball, an space between 30 and 50 centimeters should suffice.
Caring for your hornbeam after planting
When the newly planted hornbeam is established within the gardens, its next step is to reduce the length of the shoots of the plants that are bare approximately half with Gardena secateurs and then let them grow out to form a more dense hedge. If not, the hornbeam will grow upwards and outwards at a rapid rate which means that the cover of plants in the central part of the garden can be slack.
The general rule is that after the first attempt, it is recommended to trim the hedge lightly and frequently over the coming 2 or 3 years to keep its size and keep any patches of bareness. The hornbeam's young growth may lose some of its strength if cut too often. By adding fertilizer by means made of compost (approx. 3-4 millilitres per square metre) will provide the plant sufficient nutrients to ensure healthy growth. Apply the necessary amount of compost in thin layer and then incorporate it lightly with the Gardena grubber. After three years, once the hornbeam grows into an intimidating hedge, cutting it twice per year should suffice. Once in June at the end and again between January and February prior to buds begin to form. In addition, adding fertiliser to soil that is rich in nutrients isn't usually required in the case of soil that is thin, however you must add fertiliser in the same way as you would normally.
After you have planted the plant in the fall, you must also water it vigorously, adding between 10 and 20 cubic litres of water for each square meter. Then, you should follow it with frequent watering throughout its first winter that there isn't any frost. However, be careful as with all plants, hornbeams can be prone to waterlogging.
Be sure to prevent damage caused by salt at an early time
In the case of hornbeam hedges that are planted in areas that are particularly susceptible to frost it is beneficial to protect their roots by putting down a layer of three to five centimeters bark mulch at the beginning of their winter to guard against frost. If the hedge is placed on a footpath or an intersection that is gritted during winter, then mulching the area with straw is suggested during this time to guard against splashes of water. After planting the hedge, it's essential to make sure the soil is landscaped to ensure that large amounts of melt salty water don't get to the roots of the hedge.
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