[toreilly]

My beech hedge (about 2 years old / 5 ft) is very leggy. They have a tall leading stem that has no side shoots. Could anyone tell me when should I prune it back? Should I cut right down 2 foot to where the side shoots are?

Also, if you have any suggestions, by Hebes got a battering in the snow. They look completely dead, droopy and brown. Should I dig them up or can they take a hard pruning. I am not that attached to them, the are old and scraggly at the best of times!!

Thanks a mill for any input.

Toreilly

[michael brenock]

cut the beech hedge down very low as long as there are a few buds below the cut is all that matters, otherwise the beech will continue to grow in height and eventually become a tree. Beech is always pruned in the dormant season (November to April). The beech should have been cut back when it was initially planted so as to make it multi-stemmed rather than one single stem.
hebes are not so hardy and may appear badly shaped after the severe winter. They do not respond to severe pruning just a light cosmetic cut here and there.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[toreilly]

Thanks so much for the response
Michael. So glad you said to prune them I've been itching to get out to prune them. Tara