Pruning and Grooming 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 nearby 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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- If you follow my blog, you may have seen this tall hornbeam hedge. It 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. Carpinus betulus is a hornbeam native to Western Asia and central, eastern and southern Europe, including southern England. Because of its dense foliage and tolerance to being cut back, this hornbeam is popularly used for hedges and topiaries.
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- Hornbeams grow quickly, so it is important to trim and sculpt them regularly. We do this task every year around this time. Hornbeam is also very hardy and frost resistant, which is good in this region.
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- Looking inside the hedge, the hornbeam has pale grey bark with vertical markings. All of the hornbeams are planted in a very straight line just a couple feet apart. One can see the sturdy branches and how they grow outward and slightly upward.
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- The crew does most of the hornbeam pruning by hand. Everyone uses Japanese Okatsune shears specially made for trimming hedges. These shears are user friendly, and come in a range of sizes.
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- Here’s Pasang working on the front sections. We 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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- I prefer this method of trimming because the cuts are very clean and smooth when done by hand. 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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- When pruning, Pasang keeps the shears close to shoulder level. This allows the best control. He also holds the shears closer to the base of the blades. Here he is working by hand on the upper sections from our trusted Hi-Lo. It is more time consuming to prune the hedge this way, but it is also more exact, and that’s important when sculpting formal hedges.
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- Pasang is carried from section to section very carefully. This is also a good time for him to assess his pruning from another angle, and to decide where adjustments are needed.
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- Down below, Fernando sits in the Hi-Lo ready to move Pasang safely from place to place. The Hi-Lo is very useful, and because the hedge is accessible from the parking lot, it always comes in handy for this task.
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- On the left is what Pasang has completed. On the right is what he still has left to do. 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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- Looking up, the new growth can be seen growing wildly above the trimmed lower section.
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- Here he is trimming the sides from the safety of the Hi-Lo cage. He is also able to use the floor of the cage as a straight trimming guide.
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- And look at all the cut leaves – this is just from the front of the sections. Phurba rakes them up as they go, so it is an easier cleanup at the end.
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- And here is the finished hedge – trimmed beautifully.
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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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- Next task – the European hornbeam hedge along the back of the Summer House and the Winter House. Because it is planted on a gradual slope, it needs to be pruned using a step method. The top and upper sides of a hedge are exposed to lots of light, so they grow more vigorously. Here is the hedge before it was done.
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- And here is one of two giant hornbeam shrubs opposite the long hedge which also needed pruning.
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- Pasang is back on our trusted Hi-Lo to reach the furthest parts of the hedge with his sheers.
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- Here he hs tackling the shrub. Pasang is very skilled at sculpting and shaping our trees.
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- And here is the hedge all complete. 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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- Look at how beautiful it is from a distance when finished.
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- Here’s Pasang after finishing the front two shrubs – they’ve never looked better!
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- By day’s end, there are a lot of trimmings to rake up.
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- Here’s another photo after everything is cleaned and taken away to the compost pile. Pruning and grooming the hornbeams is a big task – it takes about two and a half weeks to get all of them done around the farm, but once they’re finished they look so terrific – and all done by hand! Thanks to the hardworking crew!
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