Pruning My Hornbeam Hedges
It's that time of year again, when the fast growing hornbeam hedges around my farm need to be pruned and groomed.
Over the last couple of weeks my outdoor grounds crew trimmed the tall hornbeam hedge in front of my main greenhouse. They also tackled the long hornbeam hedge that runs from my Summer House and along the road behind my Winter House as well as the hornbeam shrubs. Botanically known as Carpinus betulus, the hornbeam is a fast-growing deciduous tree. In fact, it can grow about four to five feet per year. I keep a close eye on all the hornbeams - it’s crucial to prune them regularly, so they never look too overgrown and unruly.
Enjoy these photos.
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- This tall hornbeam hedge grows along one side of the parking lot directly in front of my main greenhouse. It is quite pretty here but serves primarily as a privacy and noise barrier from the road. It is ready for its pruning. Carpinus betulus is a hornbeam native to Western Asia and central, eastern and southern Europe, including southern England.
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- This hedge is behind my Winter House and Summer House. It, too, has grown quite a bit over the months. Because hornbeams grow so quickly, it is important to trim and sculpt them regularly. We do this task every year around this time.
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- Another view of the same long hedge behind my home shows the new growth on top.
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- All of the hornbeams are planted in a very straight line just a couple feet apart. The sturdy branches grow outward and slightly upward.
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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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- The crew does most of the hornbeam pruning by hand. Here is Pasang pruning the front face of the hedge behind my Winter House. Everyone uses Japanese Okatsune shears specially made for trimming hedges. The shears are user friendly, and come in a range of sizes. Notice the handles – they are short to allow access to tight areas.
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- The shears allow the crew to sculpt and groom as well as prune the foliage. I like to use a traditional English style of pruning, which includes a lot of straight, clean edges. A well-manicured hedge can be stunning in any garden but left unchecked, it could look unruly.
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- Although slower, this method of trimming by hand ensures careful precise, clean cuts.
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- It is also more exact, and that’s important when sculpting formal hedges.
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- Looking up, one can see what has been pruned and what has not yet been cut.
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- Here’s a view from the side. It’s a big difference, but this shows the growth from the past year. These hornbeams are so healthy and lush.
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- Fernando sits in the Hi-Lo ready to move teammates safely from place to place.
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- To keep the hedges straight on top, I instruct everyone to use landscaper’s twine to create a guide. It’s an easy way to make sure everything is cut properly.
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- Here’s Phurba trimming the top of the hedge behind my Winter House.
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- And look at all the cut leaves – these are raked up as they work, so cleanup is easier at the very end.
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- And here is a finished hedge – trimmed beautifully.
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- Here it is from the other side. Because this one is planted on a gradual slope, it needs to be pruned using a step method.
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- And everything is perfectly straight from this angle also.
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- Here are the shrubs in front of the Summer House. Deer do eat hornbeams, but since the entire property is completely fenced, it isn’t a problem here at the farm.
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- A younger hedge is also groomed across the parking lot right in front of my glass greenhouse. We planted this hedge in the spring of 2019 – it has grown quite a bit. An identical one is on the other side of the greenhouse entrance.
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- Pruning and grooming the hornbeams is a big task – it takes about two weeks to get all of them done around the farm, but once they’re finished they look so terrific – thanks to my hardworking crew!
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