Growing guide

How to grow beech

Allowed to grow to its full potential, beech forms a large majestic tree for spacious gardens. It also makes a fine hedge with bright green leaves that turn burnt orange in autumn. Although deciduous, it usually holds onto the dead leaves when grown as a hedge, so still offers privacy and shelter during winter.

Save to My scrapbook

Quick facts

  • Excellent as hedging
  • Select copper beech for a bold statement
  • Beeches are long-lived trees or hedges
  • Good on any free-draining soil, including chalk
  • Not suitable for regions prone to drought
  • Grows in sun or part shade
  • Trim hedges annually in August and renovate in February
  • Hedges retain old leaves in winter while tree forms drop them

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Pruning and training
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.