Photo: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Tree
Oriental beech: when and how to prune
Fagus orientalis
Oriental beech is best pruned in August.
| Pruning months | August |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in August |
| Flowering | April–May |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for birds |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Oriental beech: when to prune it?
Rarely needed. If necessary, in August, when the tree is in full leaf.
What else to prune in those months? August
Oriental beech: how to prune it?
- Remove dead, broken and crossing branches.
- Raise the crown gradually by cutting back low side branches if you want to walk underneath.
- Remove several small branches rather than one thick one.
- Leave work on large branches to a tree surgeon.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: August.
- Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in August can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- In September–October birds eat the fruit: leave some on the plant or on the ground.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Beeches heal large pruning wounds poorly: do not cut off thick branches and never top the tree.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Oriental beech · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.