Beech hedge pruning

Yorky · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:27 am Post subject: Beech hedge pruning

I'm looking for advice on pruning a beech hedge. It's about 5 years old and 7ft tall in places.

I want it to thicken out & fill in the gaps and grow to about 8ft tall.

It looks untidy at the moment and some lead shoots are flopping over.

Can anyone advise on how best to prune it to achieve the above-mentioned including how much to take off the existing height & where to prune etc.

Pictures in the link below. Thanks in advance

http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/Beech%20hedge%20pruning/

Sive · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:35 am Post subject:

You just need time and patience, it will thicken out fine......I would chop the tallest parts by 12 inches to encourage it to thicken, and keep the sides trimmed too.

hedgestarter · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:55 pm Post subject:

That's a nice hedge do you mind me asking about the colour in the winter...do you like the brown?? I'm not sure which hedge to plant

Yorky · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:42 am Post subject:

It looks alright in winter - still offering privacy from a deciduous hedge, would prefer this to laurel or conifer.

What I would've done differently is given it a wider margin to grow in as the lawn must be robbing it of nutrients

hedgestarter · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:53 am Post subject: