Beech hedges are popular, easy to trim and thick-growing. Find out more about the best time to trim beech hedges and how to maintain them.
27.10.2023
The best times to trim a beech hedge are in February and June. February is ideal for radical rejuvenation cutting and pruning, as you will not disturb any breeding birds during this time and the wood has not yet come into new growth. The time around Midsummer’s Day (24 June) is also suitable for a gentle maintenance cut.
In accordance with Section 39 (5) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, severe trimming beech hedges is prohibited throughout Germany from 1 March to 30 September. However, you can always carry out gentle shaping and maintenance cuts on your beech hedge.
You should trim your beech hedge twice a year. The best time for more dramatic pruning is in February, just before the new growth begins. It is worth doing a gentle maintenance cut at the end of June so that your beech hedge grows densely and maintains its shape.
When pruning beech hedge in summer, you should only cut new stems back by half to two thirds of their length. More severe pruning is also possible and permitted in February. Cutting a beech hedge back hard to its old wood is possible and won't damage the plant. Cut older branches off directly below where they fork. Be sure to observe regulations on beech hedge trimming, as the Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits the cutting of hedges back to the trunk from 1 March to 30 September.
The question of when to cut a beech hedge is easily answered. As beech hedges grow quickly, it is best to cut them twice a year, once in early spring and once around Midsummer’s Day. February is a good time for cutting a beech hedge back hard if necessary, because at this time you will not disturb any breeding birds and new growth hasn’t yet begun.
Hedges cannot be cut at all times of the year.
From a legal point of view, you should avoid using a hedge trimmer after the end of February, as Section 39(5) of the German Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits dramatic pruning of beech hedges from 1 March to 30 September – this legislation is intended to protect breeding birds.
However, you can always make light shaping and maintenance cuts to your beech hedge once you have ensured that no birds are breeding in it. An additional maintenance cut around Midsummer’s Day (24 June) is a good idea.
With regular hedge trimming your plants will remain beautifully shaped and grow back densely – but note that in autumn, hornbeams gradually lose their leaves and so become less sight-obstructing. Hornbeam hedges initially turn yellow at this time of year, while copper beech hedges take on a bright orange-red colour. Both copper beech and hornbeam hedges can be treated in the same way.
Whether your hedge is a European beech or a hornbeam, to trim a beech hedge correctly there are a few things you should take into account to ensure your hedge will grow back healthy and dense. We explain how to trim your beech hedge correctly.
Trimming a beech hedge is a rewarding task for beginners, as beech tolerates cutting so well you can’t really go wrong. You can significantly trim your beech hedge in both height and width, and it will grow back densely. You can rejuvenate an old beech hedge by cutting it right back: before spring starts, use an electric chainsaw to saw off all old branches above the ground, so that only the central stem remains with side branches about 10 centimetres long. Trim all non-branching stems with the hedge trimmer. Mechanical secateurs are ideal for finer work.
Around Midsummer’s Day on 24 June, it’s a good idea to give your beech hedge another gentle trim so that it becomes dense with new growth. Please bear in mind that harsh pruning is prohibited during this time to protect breeding birds. Keep a close eye out for birds’ nests when you start cutting your beech hedge into shape.
Carefully remove all new stems that have not yet branched, as well as any unsightly extra-long protruding stems. You should also look out for old and diseased stems to remove them. However, be sure to leave in place a third of the new growth from the current year.
Cutting the hedge into a trapezoid shape ensures it gets enough light and will not be overly laden down with snow in the winter.
STIHL tip
When shaping your beech hedge, you can use some stretched twine as a guide to trim the plant into trapezoidal shape – slimmer at the top, wider at the bottom. This shape ensures your beech hedge gets enough sunlight and helps prevent snow breakages in the winter.
Cutting like this will make your beech hedge grow dense and helps produce a compact, tidy appearance.
You should care for and water your beech hedge.
After deep pruning, it’s a good idea to fertilise your beech hedge. Fertilising the hedge ensures it has a sufficient supply of valuable nutrients and promotes the start of healthy regrowth in spring. You should also water a young beech hedge regularly. Old beech hedges only need to be watered during dry periods so that they don't turn brown. However, you should always be sure to avoid waterlogging when maintaining hedges.
In order to look after your beech hedge correctly, it is important to be able to recognise and treat hedge diseases. It is also a good idea to fill in any gaps in the hedge to give your beech hedge a compact and well-groomed appearance.
