- Propagate hornbeam hedge by sowing
- Grow hornbeams from cuttings
- Lower hornbeams
- The simplest solution: dig up offshoots!
Gardeners who are self-reliant grow the plants for a hedge themselves, even if it takes longer. With hornbeam hedges, however, the propagation often does not work well. What to consider when propagating a hornbeam hedge.
Hornbeams can be propagated by seeds, among other things
Propagate hornbeam hedge by sowing
- Collect hornbeam seeds
- stratify
- then sow
- alternatively sow directly outdoors
Hornbeams form their seeds in small nuts. However, seeds can only rarely be harvested from a hornbeam hedge. By pruning frequently, you remove the inflorescences so that hardly any seeds can develop.
If you find a hornbeam nearby, you can try to find some nuts there. Before you can sow these, the seed needs a cold period, so it needs to be stratified to overcome the sprout inhibition.
Place the nuts in a dark package in the fridge for a few weeks before sowing. Alternatively, you can also sow hornbeams outdoors. There, however, most of the nuts are found and eaten by squirrels and mice.
Grow hornbeams from cuttings
To propagate a hornbeam hedge from cuttings, cut 10 to 20 centimeters long, woody shoots in spring and put them in potting soil.
A large proportion of the cuttings will not root, so you will need a lot of cuttings.
It takes up to two years until the trees have formed enough roots and can be planted in the desired location.
Lower hornbeams
To do this, bend a scratched branch down, fix it and cover it with soil. Keep the sinker moist but not too wet. The following year you can see whether new roots have formed on the shoot.
The simplest solution: dig up offshoots!
The easiest way to win hornbeams for a hedge is offshoots. They are created by self-seeding of the hornbeam.
In spring or late fall, dig up the cuttings and plant them where you want them.
tips
Hornbeams for a hornbeam hedge can be obtained quite cheaply in the nursery or by mail order. Inexpensive offers are around 60 euros for 50 plants (as of August 2016). This allows a hedge of 25 meters to be created.