topping a copper beech hedge
By Martin_53
United Kingdom 
I planted eighten copper beech trees in the spring. They are now about six feet high and I want the hedge to eventually stand about five foot high. I understand that i need to 'top' them in order to encourage them to bush out rather than grow up so i) when is the best time to do this and ii) how much should i take off - down to the 5' i want them to stay at or lower so they will grow upwards again? many thanks martin
9 Sep, 2009
Previous question
Take it to just below 5 foot and you can do in late autumn or early spring, but autumns better. You can take the entire foot off in autumn and then let it regrow in spring a bit and then trim to 5 foot.
9 Sep, 2009