Trimming the Hornbeam Hedges

July 22, 2017

The big task of pruning the hornbeam hedges is in full swing at my farm.

This week, the outdoor grounds crew trimmed the hornbeam hedge in front of my main greenhouse. Botanically known as Carpinus betulus, the hornbeam is a fast growing deciduous tree that can grow up to several feet per year. I like to maintain it using a traditional European style of pruning, so it has a nice, sculpted appearance. This means, it’s crucial that the hedge be trimmed regularly, so it doesn’t look overgrown and unruly.

It is quite a chore, but the end result is so beautiful - enjoy these photos.

: In the parking area in front of my main greenhouse, there’s a tall hedge. It’s an English hornbeam hedge, or Carpinus betulus. It is quite pretty in this location, but more importantly, it serves as a good privacy barrier from the road.

: Here is Chhiring trimming the visible growth on the front of the hedge. 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.

: Carpinus betulus grows pretty quickly – about four to five feet per year, so it has to be trimmed and sculpted regularly. The crew takes on this task around this time every summer.

: Some formal hedges can be trimmed a few times a year, especially while they are actively growing.

: I decided to maintain this hedge using a traditional English style of pruning. A well-manicured hedge can be stunning in any garden, but left unchecked, it could look quite unruly.

: Using Japanese Okatsune hedge shears, Chhiring prunes the hornbeams nice and flat. These shears are user friendly, and come in a large range of sizes. Okatsune 30-inch long Hedge Shears and Okatsune 20-inch long Hedge Shears are light, precise, and made using the same hammer-forged steel used for manufacturing Japanese swords. Ours are from A.M. Leonard. http://www.amleo.com/

: Chhiring prunes all the front sections reachable by ladder.

: Using hand shears is definitely more time consuming than using a gas powered tool, but it is also more exact, and that’s important when sculpting formal hedges.

: Pruning such a large hedge can quickly wear out the shears’ blades, so they are sharpened several times during the trimming process.

: Here is a closer look at the growth that is being pruned.

: Most of the trimming is also done by eye, since my hedges are well-maintained and regularly pruned.

: This photo shows the top sections that still need trimming – so much growth in one year’s time. This hedge is thriving here at the farm.

: Hornbeams are often confused with the common beech because of their similar leaves; however, the hornbeam leaves are actually smaller and more deeply furrowed than beech leaves.

: It takes Chhiring several hours to trim the front of the entire hedge.

: Once the front was all done, the crew brings in my Hi-Lo machine, so the top of the hedge could be trimmed as well. This piece of equipment is very useful around the farm.

: If you recall, we keep thousands of tree seedlings in this area as well. The trees were repositioned so the Hi-Lo could work around them.

: Chhewang uses those trusted Okatsune shears to continue pruning the upper areas.

: Chhewang is lifted above the hedge, so he can safely trim the top from the cage of the Hi-Lo.

: The top of this hedge section is trimmed perfectly level. The underside of the cage also serves as a guide.

: Chhewang has trimmed the tops of the hedge on the right and he working his way left – see the difference?

: It takes some time, but the outcome is so worth the effort.

: Look at all the leaves that were pruned – and that’s just from one section.

: Chhewang is carried from section to section very carefully on the Hi-Lo. As he moves from one area to another, he also looks at the work he has done so far and decides whether adjustments are needed.