Why choose Purple Beech for a hedge?

The standout feature of purple beech is its beautiful, deep purple foliage, which provides a striking contrast to the usual green foliage in gardens.  In autumn leaves will begin to turn shades of copper and brown which will provide seasonal interest.  Purple Beech is well suited to both formal and informal garden settings, is easy to maintain and enjoys most growing conditions.  In addition, because beech holds onto its leaves in autumn, it continues to offer privacy, shelter and interest all year-round, making it an excellent choice of hedge.

What’s the difference between purple beech and green beech?

Other than the colour, there is very little difference between purple and green beech as both types of beech have similar growth rates and maintenance needs.  Purple beech however, does prefer to be planted in full sun in order to achieve its most vibrant purple shade, whereas green beech can tolerate full sun to partial shade.

Is Copper Beech the same as Purple Beech?

Yes, Copper Beech and Purple Beech are essentially the same tree. The terms are often used interchangeably to refer to the same tree species, Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea. The leaves of this tree have a distinct dark purple or coppery hue, which is why it has these names. You might see slight variations in leaf colour due to different growing conditions or genetic variations, but they’re the same tree species.

Is Purple Beech deciduous?

Like the green beech, purple beech is also a deciduous plant. It will lose leaves in winter but will retain many of the dead leaves, providing some privacy year-round.

How long does it take for a Purple beech hedge to establish?

This will depend on several factors such as whether you are planting individual plants or a pre-grown hedge, the size of the plants, the soil conditions, to name a few.  Generally, roots will begin to establish within the first 2 years and by years 3 to 4, the hedge will have grown significantly and become more dense.  By the fifth year of planting the hedge will be well-established, providing effective privacy, windbreak, and aesthetic value.

How quickly will purple beech grow?

Like green beech, purple beech hedging will also grow relatively quickly, at around 30-60cm per year.  This makes either variety of beech a good choice when desiring to create a hedge reasonably quickly.

What is the best time of year to plant a Purple beech hedge?

At Hedging UK we sell container grown beech plants and pre grown instant Purple beech hedges. Container grown plants can be planted all year round, although they are easier to keep watered if planted in Autumn, Winter or Spring.  If you are planting bare root beech plants, it is best to do so when the plant is dormant, during the months October to February.

How do you prepare the ground for hedge planting?

First clear away any grass, weeds or debris from the area you wish to plant your hedge, as these will compete for water and nutrients within the soil and may prevent your hedge from establishing quickly.  Next, you should use a string line to mark where you wish your hedge to grow and to ensure it grows straight and then dig a trench about 60cm wide by 30cm deep. For more information on Planting a Purple Beech Hedge please look at our guide.

What are the best growing conditions for a purple beech hedge?

Purple beech hedges can tolerate partial shade but they will thrive best in full sunlight and the more sun they get, the richer their purple colour will be.   They will grow in a variety of soil types such as clay, loam and sandy soils as long as it drains well, as this will ensure the roots do not get waterlogged and rot.

How many Purple beech hedge plants per metre?

Plant distancing will vary from between 30-60cm depending on the size of the plants and how long you are prepared to wait until you have a hedge at the desired height and density.  If you want to establish a dense hedge more quickly, then you may wish to plant the beech plants a little closer to each other, although it is important to ensure light can reach and air can circulate each plant.

If you want to establish a hedge of more than 90cm in thickness, plant two rows in a staggered pattern, spacing the rows 45 cm apart, and position each plant 90 cm from the next one. For more information on Purple Beech hedge plant spacing please refer to our guide.

How and when to trim a Purple beech hedge?

Pruning your beech hedge is important to maintain its health and appearance and only needs to be done once a year.  This will promote growth and density and ensure good air circulation around the branches, to keep pests and disease at bay.

For newly planted hedges, you do not need to do any pruning for the first few years, unless branches are sparse.  In such cases you should trim the leading shoot by one third, to encourage outward growth rather than upward growth.  The best time of year to do this is in winter, or just after planting and should be repeated the second year, if more encouragement is required.

For established hedges, trim annually in August, as this will encourage the hedge to retain any new leaf growth when they turn brown in the autumn.  This will ensure the hedge keeps its autumnal leaves until new leaves unfurl the following spring, thereby maintaining structure and privacy screening all year round. For more information on trimming a Purple beech hedge please refer to our guide.

How much can you cut back a Purple beech hedge?

Beech hedging responds well to pruning and can be cut back hard if overgrown.  However, it is better to stagger hard pruning over a couple of years, concentrating on pruning one side of the hedge and the top in year one, and then the other side in year two.  If regrowth is slow after the first year’s hard prune, leave further pruning for another year.