Whether you want to plant a beech hedge or care for a beech as a bonsai - you can propagate new trees yourself. However, that is not so easy. If you follow a few tips, the propagation of at least some red beeches will work.

The propagation of the common beech via beechnuts is the most promising

The methods of propagating beech trees

  • cut cuttings
  • Sow beechnuts
  • moss

Propagating red beeches from cuttings

Only young red beeches can be propagated by cuttings. Cut back some semi-woody shoots in spring or summer. Brush the ends with rooting powder.

Clip the top of the cuttings and cover the wounds with commercially available artificial tree bark. Place the cutting in a pot with loose cutting or propagating soil and stabilize the shoot with a band or other support.

Keep the substrate nice and moist, but avoid waterlogging. Put the pot in a cool but frost-free place over winter.

Propagation by seed

For propagation by seed you need germinable beechnuts. These can be found in the forest. To find out if a beechnut is viable, place it in a water bath. Floating fruits are not fertile.

The seeds must be stratified. Put them in the fridge for a few weeks, or sow them outdoors straight away in your desired spot.

Beechnuts are dark germs. They are covered with a not too thick layer of soil. Protect the seed from squirrels, mice and birds.

Moss off beeches

Moss removal is a lengthy process that is mostly performed by accomplished gardeners. When removing the moss, an oblique cut is made in spring or summer in a shoot that is not too old and a wedge is pushed in. Drip rooting powder or willow water onto the tree wound to promote root formation.

The interface is covered with airy material, such as wood wool or moss. A plastic bag is tied over it.

It takes some time for roots to form. The fact that the propagation worked can be seen from the fact that the red beech shoots sprout new leaves.

tips

Propagating very old beech trees using cuttings or moss rarely works and requires a certain amount of specialist knowledge. However, there is the possibility of cutting some twigs from an older copper beech and handing them over to a tree nursery. In most cases, the experts there succeed in getting at least a few shoots to sprout for a small fee.

Category:

Trees