Beech - can I cut back hard now?

[Beano]

Hi, I bought a beech from a nursery this year. It’s dormant but holding its old leaves but hasn’t had any bonsai training yet. Was thinking of cutting back to the first branch now as I read they only get one flush of growth each year so it would seem like waiting until spring growth hardens would be a waste of it’s stored energy?

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[KIRKY]

You sure can cut back hard now. Always trim these Winter/Spring.
Cheers
Kirky

[KIRKY]

You sure can cut back hard now. Always trim these Winter/Spring.
Cheers
Kirky

[Beano]

Thanks Kirky!

[shibui]

You seem to be a glutton for punishment Beano. You have picked another difficult one, especially for Adelaide.
Beech do not like hot, dry summer. There are a few growing OK in Melbourne but I find they don't like it up here on the inland side of the hills. I'm actually surprised that you have found one for sale in Adelaide.
By all means have fun trying to grow it but don't be surprised if it doesn't do well - it won't be the trunk chop or your care that kills it.

[Beano]

*sigh* I know, Neil. It was a spur of the moment trip to a nursery from husband who was trying to cheer me up and insisted I buy something... I wanted a prunus mume of course but there was just nothing there that I wanted so settled on that one. I’m expecting either a really long term project, or dead pretty soon...

[Matthew]

You seem to be a glutton for punishment Beano. You have picked another difficult one, especially for Adelaide.
Beech do not like hot, dry summer. There are a few growing OK in Melbourne but I find they don't like it up here on the inland side of the hills. I'm actually surprised that you have found one for sale in Adelaide.
By all means have fun trying to grow it but don't be surprised if it doesn't do well - it won't be the trunk chop or your care that kills it.

Neil

I got two copper beech in the garden that surprisingly have been doing quite well . Both do get abit of summer protection and are mulched heavily. They are only 4 years old but one is about 8 foot now . I do agree totally that one hot day, one missed watering , dry hot winds will do them in quick. I haven't even thought of one as a bonsai as I know that there isent a lot of forgiveness with these if they dry out.

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

Beech do not like hot, dry summer.

I was naïve in trying both copper & common beech here in Newcastle.
Conclusion…I've got 99 problems but a beech ain’t one.

[TimS]

Beech do not like hot, dry summer.

I was naïve in trying both copper & common beech here in Newcastle.
Conclusion…I've got 99 problems but a beech ain’t one.

Similar result for me in Melbourne, tried sylvatica to no success and have avoided since. Occasionally I like the idea of growing crenata, but then the memories of bonsai past resurfaces and I steer clear.

Similar results with trying to grow larch. Had 20+ for a forest at one point, down to 3 now and only because they are in the ground. As soon as I get them in pots or containers they go down hill rapidly. I love larch, but just not worth bothering with in Melbourne.

[Matthew]

Beech do not like hot, dry summer.

I was naïve in trying both copper & common beech here in Newcastle.
Conclusion…I've got 99 problems but a beech ain’t one.

Similar result for me in Melbourne, tried sylvatica to no success and have avoided since. Occasionally I like the idea of growing crenata, but then the memories of bonsai past resurfaces and I steer clear.

Similar results with trying to grow larch. Had 20+ for a forest at one point, down to 3 now and only because they are in the ground. As soon as I get them in pots or containers they go down hill rapidly. I love larch, but just not worth bothering with in Melbourne.

Had 6 larch over time . Down to my last one that seems to have abit of resilience to it . Got burnt bad one year but recovered . I have learnt to find a spot next to a pond under a weeping maple in summer that seems to suit it. I think its about 20 years old now

[shibui]

I got two copper beech in the garden that surprisingly have been doing quite well .

Well done on growing your garden beeches. There's a big climate difference between a cool valley in the foothills of the eastern ranges and Adelaide. I know there are large Beech trees at Beechworth, My Beauty and in the Dandenongs and probably elsewhere in cooler, sheltered pockets but Adelaide is far hotter and far more exposed. Many growers over there struggle with Japanese maples so Beech would be an even tougher prospect

[KIRKY]

A deeper pot and sheltered position from afternoon sun and hot winds in summer should help. They also like water but not wet feet.
Cheers
Kirky

[Greg F]

Hi this my beech ive had for around 4 years that i cut back from a 5 foot tree that seems to be ok in summer in this pot. I keep it under shade cloth most of the time.

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