Pruning and Sculpting My Hornbeams
More pruning is underway at Cantitoe Corners.
Last week, the outdoor grounds crew trimmed the long hornbeam hedge that runs in front of my Summer House, and along the road behind my Winter House. They also tackled the two large hornbeams in front of my Summer House entrance. Botanically known as Carpinus, the hornbeam is deciduous and fast growing - in fact, it can grow about four to five feet per year. I keep a close eye on all the hornbeams - it’s crucial that they be pruned regularly, so they never look too overgrown and unruly.
It is quite a task, but the end result is well worth the effort. Enjoy these photos.
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- Chhiring and Chhewang are pruning two large hornbeams located in front of my Summer House. It is easy to see how much they’ve grown this year – it was definitely time for another thorough trim.
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- I prefer all my hornbeams be pruned by hand using secateurs and Japanese shears – it is a slower process, but provides a more detailed and prettier finish.
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- Chhiring trims as much as he can from the ground, and then prunes the upper branches using a ladder.
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- Chhewang is behind the other hornbeam trimming more of its overgrowth. Here is a closer look at what’s being removed.
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- Chhewang has become a very talented pruner and does a very good job maintaining our smaller trees and shrubs.
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- Here is a view looking up at all the growth that is being removed from the top.
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- Along the back of the Summer House and the Winter House is a European hornbeam hedge, Carpinus betulus. Because it is planted on a gradual slope, it needs to be pruned using a step method.
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- This hedge has also grown quite a bit over the last year and needs a good trimming. It is quite pretty in this location, but it also serves as a good privacy barrier from the road.
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- Hornbeams tend to have two flushes of growth per year – one main flush in spring and a second spurt in late summer.
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- Hornbeams grow about four to five feet per year, so it is important to trim and sculpt it regularly. Hornbeams are also very hardy and frost resistant, which is good in this area.
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- The English hornbeam is related to the beech tree, with a similar leaf shape. On the hornbeam, the leaves are actually smaller and more deeply furrowed than beech leaves. They become golden yellow to orange before falling in autumn.
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- Hornbeam leaves are also oval, toothed and with pointed tips.
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- Using Japanese Okatsune shears gives the hedge a nice and flat appearance in front. These are Okatsune 30-inch long Hedge Shears. Okatsune shears are light and precise, and come in a range of sizes. These came from A.M. Leonard. http://www.amleo.com
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- Hornbeams do best in rich, moist, well-drained soils. All this growth shows how healthy the soil is in my gardens.
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- Look down at all the leaves that were pruned – and that’s just from one section!
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- A well-manicured hedge can be stunning in any garden, but left unchecked, it could look unruly.
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- Here is Chhiring trimming the hedge section close to my Winter House. The outermost parts of a hedge are exposed to lots of light, so they grow more vigorously.
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- Here, it is easy to see how much better the front face of the hedge looks after a good, thorough pruning.
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- In all, this process takes about a week to complete.
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- Here is the last bit to trim – Chhiring and Chhewang are almost done.
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- Once the road side of the hedge is completed, there is a lot of raking to do.
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- Look at how beautiful the hedge is when finished – and all done completely by hand – so beautiful.
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- Here is a view of the other side – because of its dense foliage and tolerance to being cut back, hornbeams are popularly used for hedges and topiaries.
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- Deer will certainly eat hornbeam, but since the property is fenced off to deer, it isn’t a problem here at the farm.
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- The hornbeams in front of the Summer House are also finished.
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- Hornbeams are pyramidal when young and become rounded with age.
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- Here’s the finished pair. In the end, these hornbeams look well-shaped and full. What pruning tasks are you doing around your home? Let me know in the comments section below.
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