Copper Beeches are incredibly hardy when it comes to pruning. If you’re growing one as a standalone specimen tree in your yard, you can pretty much put the shears away and let it do its thing. However, it’s a totally different story if you’re growing a Copper Beech hedge. In that case, regular trimming is a must if you want that clean, uniform look and healthy growth.
Timing is everything (and watch out for birds!)
If you’re planning a heavy prune, the best window is between September and March. During the rest of the year, you’ll want to keep the shears in the shed to protect nesting birds. In fact, in many places, it’s actually a legal requirement to leave them undisturbed during breeding season!
That said, a light “maintenance” trim to get rid of diseased twigs or withered leaves is fine to do anytime. Just make sure to double-check that no little feathered friends have moved into your hedge before you start.
How to prune your hedge
If you’re using a Copper Beech hedge as a natural privacy screen, you’ll need to give it at least one major haircut a year. If you skip it, the hedge will quickly lose its shape and start looking a bit wild and unkempt.
Here are the dates you should mark on your gardening calendar:
- February or early March: Do your heavy pruning now, right before the new spring growth starts to pop.
- September or October: This is the perfect time for a light touch-up to keep the shape tidy.
- Year-round: Snip off any diseased or dead branches as soon as you spot them.
Avoid sun and frost
Try not to prune your Copper Beech in the middle of a scorching sunny day. The intense sun can dry out the fresh cuts, turning them an ugly brown. On the flip side, you should also avoid pruning when there’s a hard frost on the ground.
Always make sure your tools are clean and razor-sharp. Dull or rusty blades will crush the branches instead of slicing them, leading to jagged tears. This really stresses the tree out, makes the cuts look messy, and leaves your Copper Beech wide open to diseases and fungi.
These beauties grow fast!
The Copper Beech (sometimes called the Purple Beech) is a vigorous grower. These trees can easily put on about 20 inches in height and width every single year! If you’re planting one as a standalone feature, make sure you give it plenty of room to spread its wings. If it has enough space, you’ll only ever need to prune away the occasional sickly branch or awkward limb.
